IC-NRLF 


B    3 


THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

Biology 

BEQUEST  OF 

Theodore  S,  Palmer 


Check 
List 

of  the 

Birds 

of 

Illinois 


i 


Published  by  the 

inois    Audubon    Society 


,  s.  r, 

CHECK  LIST 

of  the 

BIRDS  OF  ILLINOIS 


Together  with  a  short 
list  of  200  commoner 
birds  and  Allen's 
Key  to  Birds  Nests 


Published  by  the 

ILLINOIS  AUDUBON  SOCIETY 

10    South   La    Salle    Street 
CHICAGO 


GIF1 


I3G3 

&0/. 

iik 


CONTENTS 

Page 

Zone  Map  of  Illinois Frontispiece 

Preface 5 

Author's  Foreword 7 

List  of  200  Illinois  Birds 9 

Key  to  Birds'  Nests 16 

Comprehensive  List  of  Illinois  Birds 23 


490 


Transition 
Upper  Austral 

Lower  Austraj 


Northei 


Central 


Southern 


MAP  OF  ILLINOIS 
SHOWING  LIFE  ZONES 


Preface 

A  tentative  "Check  List"  of  Illinois  birds  ap- 
peared in  the  Spring  1917  Bulletin  of  the  Illinois 
Audubon  Society  and  again  with  certain  revisions 
and  additions  in  the  succeeding  number.  The  value 
of  efforts  of  this  sort  was  so  evident  that  it  was  de- 
cided to  undertake  the  preparation  of  a  check  list 
which  would  recognize  as  far  as  possible  all  authen- 
ticated data  relating  to  the  occurrence  of  birds  in 
Illinois,  and  serve  as  a  standard  for  the  recording 
of  bird  notes  in  every  portion  of  the  state.  The  so- 
called  "Comprehensive  Check  List  of  the  Birds  of 
Illinois"  which  occupies  the  greater  portion  of  this 
booklet  is  the  outcome.  It  is  the  work  of  Benjamin 
T.  Gault,  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Directors  of 
the  Illinois  Audubon  Society,  and  an  ornithologist 
whose  peculiar  fitness  for  this  task  is  known  to  all 
students  of  bird  migration  in  the  Illinois  area.  For 
many  years  an  accurate  and  discriminating  ob- 
server, he  had  accumulated  private  records  which 
have  been  of  the  greatest  value  in  the  preparation 
of  this  list.  The  project  has  involved  an  almost 
endless  amount  of  work  and  a  great  deal  of  pains- 
taking research.  Mr.  Gault's  sole  compensation 
for  this  is  to  be  in  the  assistance  which  the  Check 
List  will  render  to  observers  and  students  of  bird 
life  everywhere  in  Illinois. 

Elsewhere,  Mr.  Gault  acknowledges  his  indebted- 
ness to  Mr.  Robert  Ridgway  and  others  whose  con- 
tributions to  the  Check  List  have  been  of  the 
highest  importance,  and  who  have  generously  co- 
operated in  every  possible  way.  To  all  these  and 
to  Mr.  Gault,  likewise,  the  Illinois  Audubon  Society 
wishes  to  extend  its  thanks  and  the  assurance  of 
deepest  appreciation  of  service  rendered.  The  So- 
ciety is  honored  in  being  permitted  to  put  its  im- 
print on  this  composite  effort. 

For  some  years  the  Illinois  Audubon  Society  has 
furnished  schools  with  a  wall  chart  containing  a 


1th 


list  of  two  hundred  of  the  more  common  birds  of 
Illinois.  It  is  purely  arbitrary  in  its  nature  and 
represents  a  sort  of  compromise  on  the  part  of  those 
who  were  asked  to  state  their  opinion  as  to  the  two 
hundred  birds  which  are  "more  common"  in  Illinois. 
This  list  is  included  in  this  booklet  with  the  hope 
that  it  will  be  of  value  for  ready  reference  and  that 
the  beginner  may  look  upon  it  as  a  satisfactory 
working  list. 

The  key  to  birds'  nests  which  is  also  included  in 
this  booklet  is  the  work  of  Doctor  Arthur  A.  Allen, 
of  Syracuse,  New  York,  and  has  appeared  in  a  recent 
number  of  "Bird  Lore."  Doctor  Allen  has  waived 
the  copyright  privileges  for  its  use  in  this  Check 
List,  and  the  Illinois  Audubon  Society  is  greatly 
indebted  to  him  for  this  favor.  The  key  should 
prove  to  be  of  great  service  to  observers  in  the  field. 

The  Illinois  Audubon  Society  hopes  that  ob- 
servers will  find  that  the  form  in  which  this  book- 
let is  issued  lends  itself  to  pocket  use  and  the  exi- 
gencies of  field  work,  and  that  the  wide  margins  will 
invite  pencil  notes  made  "on  the  spot." 

J.  L.  S. 


Foreword 

To  the  writer  is  allotted  a  little  space  to  comment 
on  the  map  which  faces  the  title  page  of  this  book- 
let, and  to  make  acknowledgment  of  the  expert  ad- 
vice and  assistance  which  has  made  it  possible  for 
him  to  complete  the  task  of  putting  together  the 
"Comprehensive  List  of  Birds"  with  which  the 
greater  portion  of  this  booklet  is  concerned. 

The  map  defines  for  the  first  time  the  three  divis- 
ions of  the  state  hitherto  referred  to  as  Northern, 
Central,  and  Southern  Illinois.  It  also  illustrates 
in  color  the  faunal  areas  or  life  zones  described  by 
Mr.  Ridgway  in  the  introduction  to  the  list  just 
mentioned.  The  original  idea  as  suggested  by  Mr. 
Ridgway  has  been  followed  out  by  making  the  divis- 
ional lines  of  separation  between  the  stated  areas 
run  as  nearly  as  practicable  along  isothermal  lines. 
The  isotherm  selected  in  marking  the  separation 
between  the  Northern  and  Central  divisions  is  the 
mean  annual  of  51  degrees,  while  that  between  the 
Central  and  Southern  is  55  degrees.  The  division 
lines  as  they  appear  heavily  shaded  are  made  to 
follow  county  lines.  This  procedure  is  somewhat 
arbitrary  but  it  is  probable  that  it  fairly  approx- 
imates the  true  boundaries,  and  there  is  consider- 
able gain  to  students  in  the  field  by  bringing  out 
geographic  limitations  so  definitely.  The  Introduc- 
tion to  the  Comprehensive  Check  List  by  Mr.  Ridg- 
way, which  appears  in  its  proper  place,  clearly  sets 
forth  the  significance  of  the  zonal  areas  and  their 
importance  in  explaining  the  distribution  of  bird 
life.  Mr.  Ridgway's  discussion  is  a  valuable  con- 
tribution to  this  subject. 

It  remains  to  acknowledge  the  liberal  support 
and  assistance  given  the  writer  in  the  preparation 
of  the  Check  List.  For  the  contribution  of  notes, 
observations,  and  items  of  interest,  for  original  sug- 
gestions and  careful  criticism,  and  for  expert  advice 
and  help  in  the  actual  preparation  of  the  booklet, 


the  writer  wishes  to  express  his  appreciation  and 
thanks  to  each  of  the  following  persons :  R.  Magoon 
Barnes,  Henry  K.  Coale,  Ruthven  Deane,  C.  W. 
G.  Eifrig,  Chreswell  J.  Hunt,  Orpheus  M.  Schantz, 
George  P.  Lewis,  Nathan  Leopold,  Jr.,  Frederic  H. 
Pattee,  Colin  C.  Sanborn,  Jesse  L.  Smith,  Herbert 
L.  Stoddard,  Harry  S.  Swarth,  and  Otto  Widmann. 

In  addition  to  the  foregoing,  special  reference 
should  be  made  to  the  four  following  names : 
Edward  R.  Ford,  who  has  contributed  the  nesting 
and  breeding  records  for  the  northern  part  of  the 
state,  chiefly  that  portion  known  as  the  "Chicago 
Area,"  a  careful  observer  and  a  specialist  in  his  line ; 
Isaac  E.  Hess,  a  conscientious  ornithologist  who 
has  done  exceedingly  good  work  in  the  Champaign 
County  district  in  the  central  part  of  the  state,  and 
has  supplied,  on  this  occasion,  the  breeding  data  for 
that  portion  of  the  county  within  a  ten-mile  radius 
of  his  home  in  Philo ;  C.  B.  Vandercook,  a  bird- 
student  of  long  years'  standing  who,  likewise,  has 
rendered  a  similar  service  for  the  Marion,  and  a 
portion  of  the  Clinton  County,  district  of  Southern 
Illinois ;  and,  finally,  our  good  friend,  the  veteran 
ornithologist,  Robert  Ridgway,  who,  independent  of 
his  other  achievements,  which  have  given  him  an  in- 
ternational reputation,  is  regarded  as  the  leading 
authority  on  the  birds  of  this  state.  These  gentle- 
men have  very  generously  contributed  the  specific 
information  relating  to  the  birds  of  their  respective 
districts,  and  to  them  are  especially  due  the  thanks 
of  the  writer  and  of  the  Illinois  Audubon  Society. 

BENJAMIN  T.  GAULT. 


A  List  of  200  Commoner  Birds 
of  Illinois 

In  compiling  the  "List  of  200  Illinois  Birds"  the 
customary  arrangement  of  families  and  species,  fol- 
lowed by  ornithologists,  has  been  reversed  in  order 
that  the  more  familiar  birds  should  be  at  the  be- 
ginning rather  than  at  the  end  of  the  list. 

Since  the  north  and  south  extension  of  the  state 
is  approximately  400  miles,  there  is  considerable 
variation  in  the  species  to  be  found  in  areas  so 
widely  separated.  A  combined  list  of  the  birds  com- 
mon in  different  portions  of  the  state  will  therefore 
not  be  workable  in  every  portion  of  the  state,  un- 
less qualifying  marks  of  some  sort  are  used.  In 
the  following  list  this  is  accomplished  by  placing 
after  the  names  of  those  common  only  in  certain 
portions  of  the  state,  (N)  indicating  North,  (C) 
Central,  and  (S)  Southern.  For  example,  the  Car- 
dinal, although  found  here  and  there  in  northern 
Illinois,  can  be  said  to  be  common  only  in  central 
and  southern  Illinois.  It  therefore  appears  in  the 
list  as  follows: — Cardinal  (C)  (S). 

All  names  on  the  list  not  followed  by  bracketed 
letters  represent  birds  that  are  common  throughout 
the  state.  It  should  be  noted  that  this  entire  list  is 
included  in  the  "Comprehensive  Check  List"  to- 
gether with  many  more  birds  more  or  less  rare  in 
the  state.  The  latter  list  is  to  be  found  on  pages  23 
to  80. 

Thrushes  and  Bluebird 

Bluebird 

Robin 

Hermit  Thrush 

Olive-backed  Thrush 

Gray-cheeked  Thrush 

Willow  Thrush 

Wood  Thrush 

Kinglets  and  Gnatcatcher 

Blue-gray  Gnatcatcher 
Ruby-crowned    Kinglet 
Golden-crowned   Kinglet 


L         I          S  T  O          I 

Nuthatches  and  Titmice 

Carolina  Chickadee  (S) 
Chickadee  (N)   (C) 
Tufted  Titmouse  (C)  (S) 
Red-breasted  Nuthatch 
White-breasted   Nuthatch 

Creeper 

Brown  Creeper 

Mockingbirds,  Wrens,  Etc. 

Long-billed  Marsh  Wren 
Short-billed  Marsh  Wren 
Winter  Wren 
House  Wren 
Bewick's  Wren  (S) 
Carolina  Wren  (C)   (S) 
Brown  Thrasher 
Catbird 
Mockingbird  (S) 

Pipit 

Pipit 

Warblers 

Redstart 

Canadian  Warbler 
Wilson's  Warbler 
Hooded  Warbler  (S) 
Yellow-breasted  Chat  (C)    (S) 
Maryland   Yellow-throat 
Mourning  Warbler 
Connecticut  Warbler 
Kentucky  Warbler  (C)    (S) 
Louisiana  Water-thrush  (C)  (S) 
Grinnell's  Water-thrush 
Oven-bird 
Palm  Warbler 
Pine  Warbler 

Black-throated   Green   Warbler 
Blackburnian  Warbler 
Black-poll  Warbler 
Bay-breasted   Warbler 
Chestnut-sided  Warbler 

10 


ILLINOIS BIRDS 

Cerulean  Warbler 
Magnolia  Warbler 
Myrtle  Warbler 
Black-throated   Blue    Warbler 
Yellow  Warbler 
Cape  May  Warbler 
Northern  Parula  Warbler 
Tennessee  Warbler 
Nashville  Warbler 
Golden-winged  Warbler 
Blue-winged  Warbler  (C)  (S) 
Worm-eating  Warbler  (S) 
Prothonotary  Warbler  (C)   (S) 
Black  and  White  Warbler 

Vireos 

White-eyed  Vireo  (C)  (S) 
Yellow-throated  Vireo 
Warbling  Vireo 
Red-eyed  Vireo 

Shrike 

Migrant  Shrike 

Waxwing 

Cedar  Waxwing 

Swallows 

Rough-winged  Swallow 

Bank  Swallow 

Tree  Swallow 

Barn  Swallow 

Cliff  Swallow 

Purple  Martin 

Tanagers 

Summer  Tanager  (C)  (S) 
Scarlet  Tanager 

Finches,  Sparrows,  Etc. 

Dickcissel 
Indigo  Bunting 
Rose-breasted  Grosbeak 
Cardinal  (C)  (S) 
Towhee 

11 


Fox  Sparrow 

Swamp  Sparrow 

Song  Sparrow 

Slate-colored  Junco 

Field  Sparrow 

Chipping  Sparrow 

Tree  Sparrow  (N)  (C) 

White-throated  Sparrow 

White-crowned  Sparrow 

Lark  Sparrow 

Henslow's  Sparrow 

Grasshopper  Sparrow 

Savannah   Sparrow 

Vesper  Sparrow 

Lapland  Longspur  (N)  (C) 

Snow  Bunting  (N) 

Pine  Siskin 

Goldfinch 

Redpoll 

Crossbill   (N) 

House  Sparrow 

Purple  Finch 

Blackbirds,  Orioles,  Etc. 

Bronzed  Crackle 
Rusty  Blackbird 
Baltimore   Oriole 
Orchard   Oriole 
Meadowlark 
Red-winged  Blackbird 
Cowbird 
Bobolink 

Crow  and  Jay 

Crow 
Blue  Jay 

Lark 

Prairie  Horned  Lark 

Flycatchers 

Least  Flycatcher 
Traill's  Flycatcher 
Acadian  Flycatcher 
Yellow-bellied   Flycatcher 

12 


ILLINOIS  BIRD 

Wood  Pewee 

Olive-sided  Flycatcher 

Phoebe 

Crested  Flycatcher 

Kingbird 

Whip-Poor- Will,  Nighthawk 
Swift  and  Hummingbird 

Ruby-throated    Hummingbird 
Chimney  Swift 
Nighthawk 
Whip-poor-will 

Woodpeckers 

Northern  Flicker 
Red-bellied    Woodpecker  (C) 

(S) 

Red-headed  Woodpecker 
Yellow-bellied  Sapsucker 
Downy  Woodpecker 
Hairy  Woodpecker 

Cuckoos  and  Kingfisher 

Belted  Kingfisher 
Black-billed  Cuckoo 
Yellow-billed  Cuckoo 

Owls 

Great  Horned  Owl 
Screech  Owl 
Barred  Owl 
Short-eared  Owl 
Long-eared  Owl 

Hawks 

Sparrow  Hawk 
Rough-legged  Hawk  (N)    (C) 
Broad-winged  Hawk 
Red-shouldered   Hawk 
Red-tailed  Hawk 
Cooper's  Hawk 
Sharp-shinned  Hawk 
Marsh  Hawk 

13 


I 


Vulture 

Turkey  Vulture  (C)   (S) 
Dove 

Mourning  Dove 

Bob- White  and  Grouse 

Prairie  Chicken  (N)  (C) 
Ruffed  Grouse 
Bob-white 

Plovers 

Semipalmated  Plover 
Killdeer 

Snipe,  Sandpipers,  Etc. 

Spotted  Sandpiper 
Bartramian  Sandpiper  (N)   (C) 
Solitary  Sandpiper 
Yellow-legs 

Semipalmated  Sandpiper 
Least  Sandpiper 
Pectoral  Sandpiper 
Wilson's  Snipe 
Woodcock 

Rails,  Gallinule,  and  Coot 

Coot 

Florida  Gallinule 

Sora 

Virginia  Rail 

King  Rail 

Bitterns,  Herons,  Etc. 

Black— crowned  Night  Heron 

Green  Heron 

Great  Blue  Heron 

Least  Bittern 

Bittern 

Ducks  and  Geese 

Canada  Goose 
Buffle-head 
Golden-eye  (N)  (C) 
Ring-necked   Duck 

14 


ILLINOIS BIRDS 

Lesser  Scaup  Duck 

Canvas-back 

Redhead 

Wood  Duck 

Pintail 

Shoveller 

Blue-winged   Teal 

Green-winged  Teal 

Baldpate 

Mallard 

Hooded  Merganser 

Red-breasted  Merganser 

Merganser 

Cormorant 

Double-crested  Cormorant 

Gulls  and  Terns 
Black  Tern 
Common  Tern 
Forster's  Tern 
Bonaparte's   Gull 
Ring-billed    Gull 
Herring  Gull 

Loon 
Loon 

Grebes 

Pied-billed  Grebe 
Horned  Grebe 


J5 


Key  to   Birds'   Nests 

By  Dr.  Arthur  A.  Allen 
Ithaca,  N.  Y. 

A.  On  the  ground  or  in  tussocks  of  grass I 

AA.     In  the  ground  (in  burrows) II 

AAA.     Above  ground,  in  bushes  or  trees,  on  cliffs, 
or  about  buildings. 

B.  Hanging  or  semi-pensile  nests Ill 

BB.     Not  hanging. 

C.     In  holes  in  trees  or  in  bird-boxes IV 

CC.     Not  in  holes. 

D.     Containing  sticks'  or  large  twigs V 

DD.     With  no  sticks. 

E.     Felted  nests  of  cottony  materials...     VI 
EE.     Not  felted. 

F.     Containing  an  inner  layer  of  mud.  .    VII 
FF.     With  no  mud. 

G.     Covered  with  lichens VIII 

GG.     With  no  lichens. 

H.  Mostly  of  bark,  fibers  and 
rootlets,  with  or  without 
horsehair  lining IX 

HH.  Mostly  of  grasses,  rootlets, 
straws,  and  leaves,  usually 
with  horsehair  in  the  lining. 

J.     Not  spherical   X 

JJ.     Spherical  nests XI 

I.  On  the  Ground  or  in  Tussocks  of  Grass:  These 
nests  are  seldom  found  except  when  occupied,  and 
then  can  be  identified  by  the  birds.  Only  a  list 
will  be  given.  See  also  spherical  nests. 

In  Fields:  Bobolink,  Bob-white,  Field  Sparrow, 
Grasshopper  Sparrow,  Horned  Lark,  Killdeer, 
Meadowlark,  Nighthawk,  Pheasant,  Savannah 
Sparrow,  Song  Sparrow,  Spotted  Sandpiper,  Ves- 
per Sparrow. 

16 


KEY  TO  BIRDS'  NESTS 

In  Woods:  Black  and  White  Warbler,  Brown 
Thrasher,  Canadian  Warbler,  Hermit  Thrush, 
Junco,  Louisiana  Water-thrush,  Mourning  War- 
bler, Ovenbird,  Ruffed  Grouse,  Song  Sparrow, 
Towhee,  Veery,  Water-thrush,  Whip-poor-will, 
Woodcock. 

In  Marshes:  Bittern,  Black  Duck,  Black  Tern, 
Coot,  Florida  Gallinule,  King  Rail,  Loon,  Marsh 
Hawk,  Maryland  Yellow-throat,  Pied-billed 
Grebe,  Short-eared  Owl,  Sora  Rail,  Swamp  Spar- 
row, Virginia  Rail,  Wilson's  Snipe. 

II.     In  Burrows  in  the  Ground  : 

A.  Nesting  in  colonies  in  sand-banks. . . . 

Bank  Swallow 
AA.     Nesting  singly. 

B.     Drilling  its  own  burrow Kingfisher 

BB.     Utilizing  some  other  burrow 

Rough-winged  Swallow 

III.     Hanging  or  Semi-pensile  Nests: 
A.     In  reeds  or  swamp  bushes. 

B.  Open  above. 

1.  A  platform  only  slightly  hollowed. . 

Least  Bittern 

2.  Deeply  hollowed.  Red-winged  Blackbird 
BB.     Spherical  nests-opening  side 

Long  and  Short-billed  Marsh  Wrens 
AA.     In  upland  bushes  and  trees. 

B.     Small,  less  than  2  inches  deep  inside, 
fully  suspended. 

1.  In  berry  bushes.  White-eyed  Vireo 

2.  In  low  branches  or  saplings.  .  . 

Red-eyed  Vireo 

3.  In  evergreens   (usually) 

Blue-headed  Vireo 

4.  In  middle  of  tree 

Yellow-throated  Vireo 

5.  In  tree  top  or  outer  branches. . 

Warbling  Vireo 

BB.     Small,  semi-pensile,  partially  sup- 
ported   Acadian  Flycatcher 

17 


KEY  TO  BIRDS'  NESTS 

BBB.     Larger,  over  2  inches  deep  inside. 

1.  Of    dried    grasses,    sometimes 

partially  supported 

Orchard  Oriole 

2.  Of  fibers,  strings,  and  the  like. 

Baltimore  Oriole 

IV.     In  Holes  in  Trees  or  in  Bird-Boxes. 

A.     Nesting  in  colonies Purple  Martin 

AA.     Nesting  singly. 

B.     Drilling  holes,  no  nest  at  bottom. 

1.  Opening  about  iy2  inches 

Downy  Woodpecker 

2.  Opening  about  1^4  inches.... 

Hairy  Woodpecker 

3.  Opening  about  2  inches 

Red-headed  Woodpecker 

4.  Opening  over  2  inches. ....  .Flicker 

BB.     Using  old  Woodpecker  holes  or  natural 

cavities  of  the  same  size  or  bird- 
houses  with  similar  openings,  build- 
ing a  nest  at  bottom  of  cavity. 

1.  Nest  of  sticks  lined  with  feath- 

ers   House  Wren 

2.  Nest  entirely  of  grasses.  .  .Bluebird 

3.  Nest  of  straws  and  feathers. 

a.  Nest  cup-like,  open  above. 

Tree  Swallow 

b.  Nest  spherical  or  partially 

arched  

House  (English)  Sparrow 

4.  Nest  of  fibers,  moss,  wool,  and 

feathers.  .Chickadee  and  Nuthatch 

5.  Nest  usually  containing  a  cast 

snake-skin ....  Crested  Flycatcher 
BBB.     Using  Flicker  holes  or  natural  cavities 
of  similar  size,  no  nest  built. . . . 

Sparrow  Hawk,  Screech  Owl,  and 
Saw-whet  Owl 

BBBB.     Using  larger  natural  cavities 

Barred  Owl,  Great-horned  Owl,  and 

Wood  Duck 

18 


KEY  TO  BIRDS'  NESTS 

V.     Containing  Sticks  or  Large  Twigs. 

A.     Bulky  nests  in  trees,  15  to  60  inches  outside 
diameter. 

1.  Very  large,  30  to  60  inches 

Fish  Hawk  and  Bald  Eagle 

2.  Smaller,  no  lining,  flat Herons 

3.  Hollowed,  lining  of  bark 

Crow  and  Owl 
Great-horned 

Long-eared 

4.  Hollowed,  lining  of  fresh  leaves 

or  evergreens  

Hawks 

Red-shouldered 
Red-tailed 
Cooper's 
Sharp-shinned 

5.  Spherical  nests   Squirrels 

AA.     Smaller  nests,  less  than  15  inches  outside. 

B.     Cup-like  chimneys,  hollow  trees,  or 

silos Chimney  Swift 

BB.     Otherwise. 

C.     Platform,  very  shallow. 

1.  No  lining .. .  Mourning  Dove 

2.  A  little  lining Cuckoos 

CC.     Deeply  hollowed,  1  to  3  inches  deep. 

D.     In  thickets  or  scrubby  trees,  under 
3^2  inches  inside  diameter. 

1.  Lining  of  leaves  and  rootlets. 

Catbird  and  Brown  Thrasher 

2.  Lining  of  bark  and  wool.  . . 

Migrant  Shrike 

DD.     In  trees  usually  evergreen,  over 
3^  inches  inside  diameter.  . . 

Blue  Jay 
VI.     Felted  Nest  of  Cottony  Materials: 

A.     Nests    wider    than    high,    containing 

thistledown    Goldfinch 

AA.     Nests  higher  than  wide,  no  thistledown. 
B.     Thick   walled,   usually   in  vertical 

fork  of  bush  or  tree.  .Yellow  Warbler 

19 


KEY  TO  BIRDS'  NESTS 

BB.  Thick  walled,  usually  on  horizon- 
tal branch  of  apple  or  similar 
tree  usually  decorated  with  bits 

of  paper Least  Flycatcher 

BBB.     Thin  walled,  usually  close  to  trunk 

of  small  sapling Redstart 

VII.     Containing  Layer  of  Mud : 
A.     Built  in  trees. 

B.     Of  grasses  and  mud,  usually  no  moss, 
or  dead  leaves. 

1.  Under  4   inches   inside   diam- 

eter   Robin 

2.  Over  4  inches  inside  diameter. 

Bronzed  Crackle 
BB.     Containing  dead  leaves  and  usually 

moss   Wood  Thursh 

AA.     Built  on  buildings,  bridges  or  cliffs. 
B.     Outer  layer  of  grasses,  mud  within. 

1.  Under  4  inches  diameter Robin 

2.  Over  4  inches  inside  diameter. 

Bronzed  Crackle 
BB.     Outer  layer  of  mud,  some  grasses. 

1.  Open  at  top,  cup-shaped 

Barn  Swallow 

2.  Open  at  side,  gourd-shaped. . . 

Cliff  Swallow 

BBB.     Outer  layer  of  moss  and  mud. .  .Phoebe 
VIII.     With  an  Outer  Covering  of  Lichens,  Saddled  on 
Branch. 

A.     Very  small,  less  than  1^  inches  out- 
side diameter 

Ruby-throated  Hummingbird 

AA.     Larger,  over  1^  inches  outside  diameter. 

1.  Very  deep,  over  1^  inches 

Blue-gray  Gnatcatcher 

2.  Shallow,  under  1^  inches 

Wood  Pewee 

IX.     Mostly  of  Bark,  Fibers,  and  Rootlets,  With  or 
Without  Horsehair  Lining. 
A.     Small   woodland   nests,   usually   in   ever- 
greens, less  than  2  inches  in  diameter 

20 


KEY  TO  BIRDS'  NESTS 

(seldom  found).. Pine  Warbler,  Mag- 
nolia Warbler,  Black-throated  Green 
Warbler,  Purple  Finch,  Blackburnian 
Warbler. 

AA.     Small  woodland  nests,  less  than  2  inches 
in  diameter  usually  in  bushes  or  sprouts. 

1.  No  dead  wood  in  bottom 

Chestnut-sided  Warbler 

2.  Bits  of  dead  wood  in  bottom. . 

Black-throated  Blue  Warbler 
AAA.     Orchard  or  woodland  nests,  over  2  inches 

inside  diameter. 
B.     Unusually  thin,  flimsy  structures. 

1.  Little   or   no   lining,   usually   in 

high  bushes  

Rose-breasted  Grosbeak 

2.  Considerable   lining,   usually   in 

trees Scarlet  Tanager 

BB.     Thick,  well-formed  structures  with  some 
cotton  or  wool. 

1.  Shallow,  about  1  inch  deep.  .Kingbird 

2.  Deeper,  about  1^  inches  deep. . 

Cedar  Waxwing 

X.  Mostly  of  Grasses,  Rootlets,  Straws,  and  Leaves, 
Usually  with  Horsehair  in  the  Lining,  and  not 
Spherical. 

A.     With  many  leaves,  placed  in  weeds,  ferns, 
or  low  bushes. 

1.  Under  2  inches  inside  diameter. 

Indigo  Bunting 

2.  Over  2  inches  inside  diameter. 

a.  Nest  placed  on  mat  of  leaves. 

Veery 

b.  Leaves  woven  into  nest.  . . . 

Yellow-breasted  Chat 

AA.     With  few  or  no  leaves. 

B.     Less  than  1^4  inches  inside  diameter. 

1.  With  thick  horsehair  lining. . . . 

Chipping  Sparrow 

2.  With  few  hairs,  or  none 

Field  Sparrow 

21 


KEY  TO  BIRDS'  NESTS 

BB.     Over  2  inches  inside  diameter. 

1.  With  many  or  few  hairs  in  lining. 

Song  Sparrow 

2.  No  hairs,  a  few  leaves 

Yellow-breasted  Chat 

XI.     Spherical  Nests  of  Grasses,  Bark,  or  Fibers : 
A.     On   the   ground   very   thickly   lined 

with  soft  grasses Meadow  Mouse 

AA.  In  bushes  or  vines,  usually  on  some 
old  bird's  nest  and  lined  with  cot- 
ton or  wool Deer  Mouse 

AAA.     In  trees  or  about  buildings. 

1.  Of  bark  and  fibers,  no  lining,  us- 

ually   some    leaves   or   sticks, 
often  on  an  old  crow's  nest. Squirrel 

2.  Of  grasses  lined  with  feathers.  . 

House  Sparrow 


Introduction  to  Comprehensive  List 

This  Check  List  of  the  Birds  of  Illinois,  prepared 
by  Mr.  Gault,  is  intended  for  the  use  of  local  observers. 

As  shown  on  the  map,  the  State  of  Illinois  includes 
portions  of  the  three  life-zones  into  which  the  Austral 
Region  of  North  America  is  divided.a  These  life-zones 
are  based  primarily  on  temperature,  which  is  without 
doubt  a  controlling  factor,  especially  the  mean  tem- 
perature of  the  breeding  season  (corresponding  to  the 
growing  season  of  plants)  and  of  the  colder  months 
(corresponding  to  the  dormant  season  of  vegetation), 
the  latter  as  influencing  the  southward  migration  of 
birds;  and  the  bioclimatic  law  of  latitude,  longitude 
and  altitude.5  But  temperature  alone  is  not  sufficient  to 
explain  all  the  phenomena  of  geographic  distribution ; 
obviously  other  factors  must  be  considered,  such  as 
ecological  conditions,  and  past  geological  history. 

While  unquestionably  the  best  graphic  presentation 
of  the  subject  extant,  the  Biological  Survey  zone-map, 
nevertheless,  requires  more  or  less  modification  in  minor 
details.  It  shows  the  Transition  and  Lower  Austral 
zones  as  barely  touching  the  northern  and  southern 
edges,  respectively,  of  Illinois,  more  than  ninety-nine 
per  cent  of  the  area  of  the  state  being  occupied  by  the 
Upper  Austral  Zone.  Obviously  this  is  so  far  from 
being  correct  that  a  division  of  the  state  into  three 
approximately  equal  divisions  would -far  better  express 
the  facts.  It  should  be  borne  in  mind,  however,  that 
in  reality  there  are  no  "hard  and  fast  lines"  or  sharply 
defined  boundaries  between  the  life-zones,  each  blend- 
ing gradually  into  the  next,  or  when,  as  sometimes 
happens  locally,  the  transition  is  abrupt,  the  two  areas 
interdigitate ;  and,  therefore,  that  when  a  sharp  division 
is  shown  on  a  map  the  line  of  demarcation  must  be 
considered  an  arbitrary  one,  especially  when  county 
lines  are  followed,  as  has  been  done  in  the  present 
case  for  the  convenience  of  observers. 

By  far  the  greater  number  of  birds  (as  well  as  other 
animals  and  plants)  occuring  in  Illinois  have  a  range 

23 


COMPREHENSIVE  LIST 

covering,  as  a  whole,  the  entire  state;  but  a  certain 
number  of  species  have  a  more  or  less  restricted  breed- 
ing range,  one  set  being  confined  to  the  more  northern, 
the  other  to  the  more  southern  portion  of  the  state. 
Some  of  the  Transition  Zone  species  occupy,  during 
the  breeding  season,  only  the  northern  portion  of  that 
zone,  others  most  of  that  area,  while  others  invade,  to 
a  greater  or  lesser  extent,  the  Upper  Austral  Zone. 
In  like  manner  some  species  are  restricted  to  the  more 
southern  portion  of  the  Lower  Austral  Zone,  while 
others  extend,  in  some  cases  at  least  as  recent  invaders, 
farther  northward,  some  of  them  nearly  across  the 
Upper  Austral  Zone,  or  even  to  within  the  edge  of 
the  Transition  Zone.  The  Upper  Austral  Zone,  there- 
fore, is  an  area  of  overlapping  of  Transition  Zone  and 
Lower  Austral  Zone  species,  there  being  none  peculiar 
to  the  area.  In  reality,  the  life-zones,  as  generally 
understood  and  accepted,  are  more  or  less  indefinite 
and  even  unstable.  As  an  able  writer  on  the  subject 
has  remarked,  "the  present  aspects  of  dispersal  are 
a  result  of  past  conditions — a  fauna  is  the  expression 
of  a  certain  adjustment  between  organisms  and  their 

environment,  and the  most  important  direct  factor 

in  any  environment  is  the  nature  of  the  vegetation 
which  is  conditioned  by  soil  and  by  the  climatic  factors 
of  heat  and  moisture,  and  that  our  so-called  faunas 

in  reality  represent  a  somewhat  temporary  state 

of  groups  of  species  in  relation  to  breeding  areas,  and 
the  more  or  less  arbitrary  boundaries  of  these  faunas 
represent  our  knowledge  only  of  the  present  conditions 
of  distribution.  "c 

That  the  breeding  range  of  some  species  of  birds 
has  been  subject  to  mutations  of  very  considerable 
extent  within  the  memory  of  persons  now  living  is 
a  well-known  fact.  The  practical  disappearance  of 
the  Dickcissel  from  the  entire  country  east  of  the 
Alleghenies  is  a  case  in  point.  Here  in  Illinois  three 
notable  examples  may  be  cited :  the  song-sparrow, 
which  in  seven  years  extended  its  breeding  range  one 
hundred  miles  farther  southward  in  the  Wabash  Valley 
(from  Paris  to  Grayville)  ;  the  House  Wren,  which 
previous  to  1869  was  absolutely  unknown  in  south- 
eastern Illinois,  where  it  has  since  become  abundant 

24 


OF          ILLINOIS          BIRDS 

and  now  almost  replaces  Bewick's  Wren;  the  Tufted 
Titmouse,  Carolina  Wren,  Prothonotary  Warbler, 
Long-billed  Marsh  Wren  and  Cardinal,  which  have 
recently  occupied,  as  breeding  birds,  portions  of  the 
Transition  Zone;  and  Bachman's  Sparrow,  originally 
a  Lower  Austral  species  but  now  found  breeding  in  the 
Upper  Austral  if  not  in  the  Transition  Zone. 
It  is  also  well  known  to  observers  that  different  species 
of  birds  vary  greatly  in  relative  numbers  in  different 
years,  and  also  that  while  a  few  seem  to  be  increasing 
in  numbers  others  are  becoming  more  scarce,  some  to 
the  point  of  virtual  extirpation,  at  least  locally;  while 
several  have  completely  disappeared  in  Illinois,  as  the 
Passenger  Pigeon  the  Carolina  Paroquet  and  the  Ivory- 
billed  Woodpecker,  the  first  for  some  years  actually 
extinct,  the  other  two  very  nearly  so.  As  late  as  1871 
the  Swallow-tailed  Kite  and  Mississippi  Kite  were 
abundant  in  Richland  County,  both  breeding  here. 
Of  the  former  I  have  neither  seen  a  specimen  nor  heard 
of  anyone  else  seeing  one  during  the  past  forty  years, 
and  the  last  individuals  (a  pair)  of  the  latter  seen  by 
me  were  observed  in  July,  1910.  Here  in  Richland 
County  the  Wood  Thrush  and  Carolina  Wren  are  both 
so  rare  now  that  not  more  than  one  or  two,  if  that 
many,  are  seen  or  heard  each  season. 

The  Barn  Swallow  and  Cliff  Swallow  have  here  both 
entirely  disappeared  as  breeding  birds,  in  their  case 
the  imported  House  Sparrow  being  directly  responsible. 
Matters  of  this  kind  are  not  only  interesting  in  them- 
selves but  have  a  more  or  less  important  bearing  on 
the  problems  of  geographic  distribution,  and  local 
observers  have  therefore  the  opportunity  of  adding 
much  valuable  information  on  the  subject. 

So  much  remains  to  be  done  in  the  way  of  working 
out  in  detail  the  distribution  of  every  species  whose 
breeding  range  includes  only  a  portion  of  the  state, 
that  until  we  have  carefully  prepared  annotated  lists 
of  the  birds  of  practically  every  county  we  cannot  hope 
to  indicate  on  a  map  with  more  than  approximate  ac- 
curacy the  limits  of  the  several  life-zones;  the  best 
that  we  can  do  at  present  is  to  draw  the  boundaries 
as  they  appear  most  probable  in  the  light  of  our  im- 
perfect knowledge. 

25 


COMPREHENSIVE  LIST 

As  previously  stated,  there  are  certain  species  of 
birds  which  are  confined  during  the  breeding  season 
to  the  northern  third  (more  or  less)  of  Illinois,  and 
others  which  breed  only  in  the  southern  third  (more 
or  less).  These,  together  with  the  trees  peculiar  to 
each  section,  and,  therefore,  also  characterizing  the  two 
extreme  faunal  areas,  are,  in  part,  the  following: — 

Illinois  birds  which  breed  only  in  the  Northern  Third 
(more  or  less}  of  the  state. 

Wilson's  Snipe,  Solitary  Sandpiper,  Wilson's  Phala- 
rope,  Yellow-bellied  Sapsucker,  Least  Flycatcher. 
Bobolink,  Yellow-headed  Blackbird,  Purple  Finch, 
Rose-breasted  Grosbeak,  Savanna  Sparrow,  Nelson's 
Sparrow,  White-throated  Sparrow,  Song  Sparrow 
(except  along  the  Wabash  River),  Philadelphia 
Vireo,  Golden-winged  Warbler,  Nashville  Warbler, 
Chestnut-sided  Warbler,  Grinnell's  Water-thrush, 
Short-billed  Marsh  Wren,  Brown  Creeper,  Red-breast- 
ed Nuthatch,  Chickadee,**  Veery. 

Illinois  trees  occurring  only  in  the  northern  third 
(more  or  less)  of  the  state. 

White  Pine,  Jack  Pine,  Larch  (Tamarack),  Arbor- 
vitae,  Aspen,  Balsam  Poplar,  Gray  Birch,  Paper  Birch, 
Hill's  Oak,  Cork  Elm,  Mountain  Ash,  Pin  Cherry, 
Choke  Cherry,  Canada  Plum. 

Illinois  birds  breeding  or  at  least  occurring  in  sum- 
mer only  in  the  southern  third  (more  or  less)  of  the 
state. 

Water  Turkey,  Mexican  Cormorant,  Wood  Ibis, 
Snowy  Egret,  Reddish  Egret,  Little  Blue  Heron,  Yel- 
low-crowned Night  Heron,  Black  Vulture,  Mississippi 
Kite,  Chuck-will's  widow,  Blue  Grosbeak,  Swainson's 
Warbler,  Bachman's  Warbler,  Carolina  Chickadee.  To 
these  might  be  added  several  species  were  they  not 
now  completely  extirpated,  among  them  the  Carolina 
Paroquet  and  the  Ivory-billed  Woodpecker. 

Illinois  trees  occurring  only  in  the  southern  third 
(more  or  less)  of  the  state. 

Bald  Cypress,  Pecan,  Water  Hickory,  Arkansas 
Hickory,  Swamp  Cottonwood,  Ward's  Willow,  Span- 
ish Oak,  Water  Oak,  Willow  Oak,  Overcup  Oak,  Cow 

26 


O     F          ILLINOIS          BIRDS 

Oak,  Winged  Elm,  Southern  Red  Elm,  Planer  Tree, 
Mississippi  Hackberry,  Cucumber  Tree,  Sweet  Gum, 
Narrow-leaved  Crab-apple,  Lance-leaved  Crab-apple, 
Green  Haw,  Shining  Haw,  Washington  Haw,  Bar- 
berry-leaved Haw,  Wild  Goose  Plum,  Chickasa  Plum, 
Water  Locust,  Black  Locust,  Deciduous  Holly,  Yellow 
Buckeye,  Carolina  Buckthorn,  Florida  Linden,  Mi- 
chaux's  Linden,  Hercules  Club,  Swamp  Tupelo,  Fark- 
elberry,  Woolly  Bumelia,  Southern  Bumelia,  Pumpkin 
Ash,  Catalpa,  Southern  Black  Haw. 

In  addition  to  the  species  of  birds  which  character- 
ize the  Lower  Austral  Zone  in  Illinois,  there  are  many 
subspecies,  for,  as  a  rule,  whenever  a  species  of  wide 
distribution  is  represented  in  the  Gulf  States  by  a 
peculiar  subspecies  it  is  the  latter  which  breeds  in 
Southern  Illinois,  at  least  the  extreme  southern  portion 
and  in  the  lower  Wabash  Valley.  Species  thus  repre- 
sented by  their  southern  subspecies  are:  Great  Blue 
Heron,  Screech  Owl,  Hairy  Woodpecker,  Downy 
Woodpecker,  Pileated  Woodpecker,  Flicker,  Night- 
hawk,  Bluejay,  Crow,  Red-winged  Blackbird,  Meadow- 
lark,  White-breasted  Nuthatch  and  Robin.  The  Lower 
Austral  Zone  is  negatively  characterized  by  the  absence 
(total  or  comparative)  during  winter  of  many  northern 
birds  which  are  more  or  less  common  during  the  season 
in  the  more  northern  portions  of  the  state.  None  of  the 
following,  for  example,  has  ever  been  observed,  even 
during  the  most  severe  winters  here  in  Richland 
County  though  some  of  them  may  occur  in  other  parts 
of  southern  Illinois :  Goshawk,  Great  Gray  Owl,  Saw- 
whet  Owl,  Evening  Grosbeak,  Pine  Grosbeak,  Redpoll, 
Snowflake,  Bohemian  Wax-wing,  Northern  Shrike  and 
Chickadee.** 

As  might  be  expected  from  the  geographic  position 
of  Illinois,  its  bird  fauna  contains  a  few  western 
species.  So  far  as  known  these  are  as  follows,  those 
breeding  (or  formerly  breeding)  in  Illinois  being  in 

27 


COMPREHENSIVE LIST 

italics:  Wilson's  Phalarope,  Marbled  Godwit,  Ferru- 
ginous Rough-legged  Hawk,  Swainson's  Hawk,  Prairie 
Falcon,  yellow-headed  Blackbird,  Western  Meadow- 
lark,  Smith's  Longspur,  McCown's  Longspur,  Le 
Conte's  Sparrow,  Harris'  Sparrow,  Clay-colored  Spar- 
row, Montana  Junco  and  Bell's  Vireo. 

ROBERT  RIDGWAY. 

aSee  the  Biological  Survey  Zone  Map  of  North  America, 
published  with  the  American  Ornithologists'  Union  Check  List, 
third  edition. 

&As  explained  by  Hopkins  in  the  Scientific  Monthly,  Vol.  8, 
June,  1919,  pages  495  to  513. 

cSpencer  Trotter,  M.  D.  The  Faunal  Divisions  of  Eastern  North 
America.  Journal  of  the  Academy  of  Natural  Sciences  of  Phila- 
delphia, Vol.  XV,  Second  Series,  1912,  pp.  297-218. 

dOf  course  the  northern  species  of  (P.  atricapillus)  is  meant, 
the  Chickadee  of  southern  Illinois  being  P.  carolinensis. 

Explanation 

For  the  sake  of  compactness  and  to  avoid  repeti- 
tion of  unnecessary  printing,  abbreviations  and  sym- 
bols have  been  used  largely  throughout  this  list. 
Thus  we  have,  for  example  in  heavy  faced  type, 
wherever  appearing  immediately  after  the  name  of 
bird,  the  following : 

P.  R.  Permanent  resident.  Resident,  or  to  be 
found  the  year  round. 

S.  R.  Summer  resident.  Present  during  the 
warmer  months  only  and  usually  found  nesting. 

T.  V.  Transient  visitant.  A  migrant,  usually 
occurring  both  spring  and  fall ;  simply  passing 
through. 

W.  V.  Winter  visitant.  Present  during  the  colder 
months  only. 

In  cases,  however,  where  these  letters  have  been 
used  in  the  body  of  the  text  a  lighter-faced  type  has 
been  employed. 

The  following  capitals  also  have  been  used,  viz : — 

N.     Northern  Illinois. 

C.     Central  Illinois. 

S.     Southern  Illinois. 

N.  C.  S.  would  therefore,  mean  the  species  is  to  be 
met  with  in  practically  all  parts,  at  least  the  three 
divisions  of  the  state. 

28 


OF          ILLINOIS          BIRDS 

Breeding  Symbols: 

The  sectional  mark  [§]  stands  for  N.  111.,  mainly 
understood  to  be  the  Chicago  Area,  and  unless 
otherwise  stated,  is  given  on  the  authority  of 
Edward  R.  Ford. 

A  single  dagger  [f]  is  intended  for  the  Philo,  or 
Champaign  County,  district  of  C.  111.,  and  used  on 
the  authority  of  Isaac  E.  Hess. 

A  double  dagger  [J]  denotes,  or  indicates  the 
Marion  County  district  of  S.  111. — authority  C.  B. 
Vandercook. 

The  dash  [— ]  is  for  the  Richland  district  of  S. 
111.,  the  home  county  and  used  on  authority  of 
Robert  Ridgway. 

The  asterisk  [*]  is  for  extreme  S.  111.,  and  unless 
otherwise  stated,  on  the  authority  of  Robert  Ridg- 
way. 

A  combination  like  this  [§ft — *]  would  mean  the 
species  has  been  found  nesting  or  breeding  prac- 
tically over  the  entire  state. 


29 


COMPREHENSIVE  LIST 

A  Comprehensive   List   of  the   Birds 
of  Illinois 

GREBES. 

Holboell's  Grebe.  T.V. 

Uncommon  late  fall  and 
early  spring  migrant  on 
Lake  Michigan.  Rare  W. 

§Horned  Grebe.  S.R.,  N. 

Probably  very  rare,  if  not 
questionable,  as  a  breeder 
at  present  day.  Formerly 
casual  S.  R.  in  N.  111.  Regu- 
lar T.  V.  in  state. 

Eared  Grebe.   T.V. 

Rare  visitant  from  the 
west. 

Listed  by  Nelson  who  re- 
garded it  a  not  uncommon 
winter  visitant  to  Lake 
Michigan.  Positive  records 
have  been  made  for  the  ad- 
joining states  of  Ind.  and 
Wis. 

§Pied-billed  Grebe.  S.R., 

N.  C.  S. 

Common.  Most  numerous 
perhaps  in  N.  111. 

LOONS. 

§Loon.   S.R.,  N. 

No  recent  nesting  records, 
so  far  as  known.  Formerly 
regular  S.  R.  in  111.  Fairly 
common  migrant  in  state. 
Winters  in  S.  111.,  and  also 
on  Lake  Michigan. 

Red-throated  Loon.  T.V. 

Regular  T.  V.  to  parts  of 
state.  W.  V.  on  Lake  Michi- 
gan. Not  as  common  as  the 
preceding. 

30 


OF          ILLINOIS          BIRDS 

JAEGERS. 

Pomarine  Jaeger. 

Rare  straggler  to  111.  Met 
with  by  Nelson  near  Chi- 
cago. 

However,  in  addition  to 
the  foregoing,  what  may  be 
regarded  as  an  unquestion- 
ably good  record  of  this 
bird,  considering  the  care- 
fully detailed  description 
and  the  amount  of  time  de- 
voted to  its  study — the  bet- 
er  part  of  a  day — was  made 
by  Lewis  and  Watson  at 
Lincoln  Park,  Chicago,  on 
Oct.  16,  1921.  The  speci- 
men was  in  the  dark  or 
sooty  plumage,  the  mela- 
notic  phase,  largely  diag- 
nostic, if  not  characteristic 
of  this  bird,  as  compared 
with  the  following,  the 
Long-tailed  Jaeger. 

Long-tailed  Jaeger. 

The  above  remark  also  ap- 
plies to  some  extent  here, 
though  it  probably  is  more 
numerous  than  the  preced- 
ing. Recorded  by  Ridgway 
from  near  Cairo. 
Positive  records  have  been 
made  by  Woodruff  for  the 
adjoining  states  of  Wis.  and 
Ind.,  and  Stoddard  also  has 
recorded  it  from  N.  W.  In- 
diana. Doubtless  occurs 
quite  regularly  at  the  south- 
ern-end of  Lake  Michigan, 
if  not  actually  within  our 
borders. 


GULLS  AND  TERNS. 

Kittiwake  Gull. 

Rare  straggler.  Lake  Mich- 
igan and  Illinois  River  rec- 
ords are  given  by  Wood- 
ruff. Also  included  in  his 
list  of  N.  E.  111.  Birds,  by 
Nelson. 

31 


CO    MPREHENSIVE  LIST 


Glaucous  Gull. 

Has  occurred  rarely  on 
Lake  Michigan.  Both  Nel- 
son and  Ridgway  include  it 
in  their  lists.  Positive  rec- 
ords for  N.  W.  Indiana  and 
Milwaukee,  Wis. 

Iceland  Gull. 

W.  V.  to  Lake  Michigan. 
Apparently  of  uncommon 
occurrence.  Listed  by  Nel- 
son. Kumlein  and  Hollis- 
ter  also  give  it  for  Wis. 

Great  Black-backed  Gull. 
T.V. 

And  W.  R.  on  Lake  Michi- 
gan. Not  common.  Met 
with  by  Nelson  who  re- 
garded it  as  not  uncommon. 
There  are  Wis.  records, 
but  is  not  included  by 
Woodruff  in  the  Chicago 
Area  list. 

Herring  Gull.  T.V. 

In  parts  of  state.  Common 
W.  R.  on  Lake  Michigan. 
Some  immature  and  non- 
breeding  birds  summer 
regularly  on  Lake  Michi- 
gan. 

Ring-billed  Gull.  T.V. 

Common  as  a  migrant. 
Some  winter  on  Lake 
Michigan  and,  like  the  pre- 
ceding, also  summer  within 
our  limits,  on  Lake  Michi- 
gan, but  to  a  much  lesser 
extent. 

Laughing  Gull. 

Rare  straggler  inland. 
Probably  accidental  within 
our  limits.  Positive  records 
of  its  actual  occurrence, 
however,  appear  to  be  lack- 
ing. There  is,  however,  a 
positive  record  for  Wis. 

32 


OF          ILLINOIS          BIRDS 


Franklin's  Gull. 

Rare  straggler  from  the  in- 
terior. Recorded  by  Ridg- 
way  from  near  Warsaw  on 
the  positive  authority  of 
Worthen. 

Sight  records,  although  for 
the  most  part  of  young, 
winter-plumaged,  or  im- 
mature birds,  but  unques- 
tionably referable  to  this 
gull,  were  made  by  Lewis, 
Watson  and  the  writer  at 
Lincoln  Park,  Chicago  dur- 
ing the  present  fall  season 
of  1921. 


Bonaparte's  Gull.   T.V. 

Common  as  a  migrant, 
even  abundant  on  Lake 
Michigan,  where  a  few  also 
have  been  reported  as  win- 
tering. It  also  summers, 
at  least  occasionally,  in 
considerable  numbers, 
within  our  limits  on  Lake 
Michigan. 

Sabine's  Gull. 

Accidental  visitant  to  Lake 
Michigan  and  Mississippi 
River  from  the  Arctic  re- 
gions. Records  from  near 
Chicago  (Nelson),  and 
Warsaw  (Fleming). 

Gull-billed  Tern. 

Of  exceedingly  rare  and 
questionable  occurrence  on 
Lake  Michigan.  Positive 
records  lacking  although 
listed  by  both  Nelson  and 
Ridgway. 

Caspian  Tern.  T.V. 

Apparently  of  regular  but 
not  common  occurrence 
within  our  limits  on  Lake 
Michigan. 

33 


COMPREHENSIVE  LIST 

Royal  Tern. 

Probably  accidental.  Actual 
evidence  of  its  occurrence 
seems  lacking.  Listed  on 
the  authority  of  Nelson. 

§Forster's  Tern.  S.R.,  N. 

Fairly  common  during  mi- 
grations. 

Common  Tern.  T.V. 

Common  migrant  on  Lake 
Michigan. 

Least  Tern. 

Rare  summer  visitant  with- 
in our  limits.  A  positive 
record  from  the  Chicago 
Area  by  Nelson. 

§BlackTern.  S.R.,  N. 

And  locally  common.  Com- 
mon summer  visitant  to 
Lake  Michigan. 

ANHINGA. 

Water-Turkey.  S.R.,  S. 

Not  uncommon  in  extreme 
S.  111.  during  the  summer 
months,  and  may  nest. 

CORMORANTS. 

Double-crested  Cormorant. 
S.R.,  C. 

Chiefly  T.  V.  Common  on 
Illinois  River  during  mi- 
grations, where  it  has  been 
recorded  as  breeding 
(Smith). 

*Florida  Cormorant.  S.R.,  S. 

Regular    S.    R.    in    S.    111. 

Straggler  to  other  parts  of 
state. 

Mexican  Cormorant.    S.R., 
S. 

Breeding  status  not  deter- 
mined. Probably  a  casual 
visitor  from  the  Gulf  coast. 

34 


OF          ILLINOIS          BIRDS 


PELICANS. 

White  Pelican.  T.V. 

Rare  visitant  to  western 
border  of  state,  during  mi- 
grations. There  is  also  a 
positive  record  for  the  Chi- 
cago Area. 

Brown  Pelican. 

Rare  straggler  from  the  gulf 
coast.  But  one  positive 
record,  viz: — Lacon,  Mar- 
shall County  (Gault),  on 
the  authority  of  Barnes. 

MAN-OF-WAR  BIRD. 
Man-of-War  Bird. 

Accidental  straggler  from 
the  Gulf  coast  or  subtropi- 
cal West  Indian  Islands. 
Recorded  by  Coale  from  Il- 
linois side  of  the  Missis- 
sippi opposite  Henderson 
County. 

DUCKS  AND  GEESE. 
Merganser.  T.V. 

Common.  Occasional  W. 
V.  within  the  state,  al- 
though wintering  common- 
ly and  regularly  on  Lake 
Michigan. 

§Red-breasted  Merganser. 
S.R.,  N. 

Occasional  W.  V.  to  all 
parts  of  state.  Fairly  com- 
mon T.  V.  Winters  quite 
commonly  on  Lake  Michi- 
gan. 

$*Hooded  Merganser.    S.R., 
N.C.S. 

Common  migrant  in  state. 
§Mallard.  S.R.,  N. 

Probably  confined  as  a 
breeder  to  northern  half 
of  state.  Abundant  mi- 
grant. And,  along  with 
several  other  species  of 
ducks,  reported  wintering — 

35 


COMPREHENSIVE  LIST 


some  night-roosting  only, 
within  our  limits — in  ex- 
treme southern  part  of 
state. 

§BlackDuck.  S.R.,  N. 

Not  common  as  a  breeder, 
but  apparently  on  the  in- 
crease as  a  T.  V. 

Gadwall.   T.V. 

Nelson  records  it  as  a  very 
rare  S.  R.  in  N.  E.  111. 
Fairly  common,  but  appar- 
ently only  on  the  inland 
waters  of  the  state. 

European  Widgeon. 

Rare  visitant  from  abroad. 
Several  records  for  this 
and  adjoining  states. 

Baldpate.  T.V. 

And  a  possible  breeder  in 
N.  111.  Fairly  common  T. 
V. 

§Green-winged  Teal.   S.R., 

N. 

Not  common.  Common 
during  migrations,  some 
wintering  it  is  said  in 
southern  part  of  state. 

§*Blue-winged  Teal.  S.R.,  N. 
C.S. 

Not  uncommon. 
Cinnamon  Teal. 

Rare  visitant  from  the  west. 
Listed  by  Ridgway. 

§Shoveller.  T.V. 

Nested  formerly  in  N.  111., 
and  may  do  so  now.  Fairly 
common  migrant. 

§Pintail.  S.R.,  N. 

But  rarely,  if  so,  now.     A 

common  migrant,  at  least 
during  the  early  spring. 

f  +*Wood  Duck.  S.  R.,  N.C.S. 

Still  reported  quite  com- 
mon on  the  Illinois  River. 
Decreasing  generally,  but 

36 


OF          ILLINOIS          BIRDS 

apparently  increasing  in 
certain  localities  since  the 
discontinuance  of  spring 
hunting.  Quite  local,  how- 
ever, in  distribution. 

Redhead.  T.V. 

Fairly  common  migrant, 
but  not  as  plentiful  as  for- 
merly. 

Canvas-back.   T.V. 

Once  abundant.  Still  fairly 
common,  but  chiefly  on 
some  of  the  inland  waters. 
Formerly  abundant  within 
the  Chicago  Area. 

Scaup  Duck.  T.V. 

Few  in  number,  compared 
with  following,  with  which 
it  is  sometimes  associated. 

§Lesser  Scaup  Duck.    S.R., 

N. 

Rare  breeder,  but  common 
migrant.  The  most  abun- 
dant of  our  ducks,  and  oc- 
casionally wintering  on 
Lake  Michigan,  and  else- 
where within  the  state. 

§Ring-necked  Duck.  S.R.,  N. 

Rare  breeder,  but  common 
migrant. 

Golden-eye.  T.V. 

Common  W.  V.  on  Lake 
Michigan.  Fairly  common 
migrant  within  the  state, 
and  wintering  to  some  ex- 
tent. 

Barrow's  Golden-eye.  W.V. 

Rare  W.  V.  on  Lake  Michi- 
gan. A  few  records  of  oc- 
currence, during  the  winter 
months,  from  other  parts 
of  state. 

Buffle-head.  T.V. 

And  also  a  winter  resident 
on  Lake  Michigan.  Com- 

37 


COMPREHENSIVE  LIST 

mon  throughout  the  state, 
but  less  so  than  formerly 
within  the  Chicago  Area. 

Old-Squaw.  T.V. 

A  common  W.  V.  to  Lake 
Michigan. 

Harlequin  Duck.  W.V. 

Rare  W.  V.  on  Lake  Michi- 
gan. Rare  visitant  to  other 
parts  of  state. 

Eider.  W.V. 

Several  winter  records  for 
Lake  Michigan.  Possibly 
more  common  than  gener- 
ally supposed. 

King  Eider.  W.V. 

Rare  W.  V.  to  Lake  Michi- 
gan and  other  parts  of 
state. 

Scoter.  W.V. 

Not  uncommon  W.  V.  on 
Lake  Michigan. 

White- Winged  Scoter.  T.V. 

Quite  common  and  regular 
in  migrations.  W.  R.  on 
Lake  Michigan.  Found  in- 
land during  migrations. 

Surf  Scoter.  T.V. 

According  to  Nelson  a 
common  winter  resident  on 
Lake  Michigan,  and  a  fall 
and  winter  visitor  to  other 
waters  of  the  state. 

§RuddyDuck.  S.R.,  N. 

But  rarely.  Common  dur- 
ing migrations. 

Snow  Goose.  T.V. 

Not  uncommon  during  mi- 
grations, and  possibly  more 
plentiful  on  the  Mississippi 
River  than  inland  in  state. 

Greater  Snow  Goose.   T.V. 

Probably  more  numerous 
than  the  preceding,  as  well 
as  commoner  on  the  Mis- 
sissippi than  elsewhere  in 
state. 

38 


OF          ILLINOIS          BIRDS 


Blue  Goose.  T.V. 

Occurs  regularly  within 
our  borders.  Said  to  be 
fairly  common  on  the  Mis- 
sissippi River  but  less  so 
than  formerly  in  other  por- 
tions of  state. 

White-fronted  Goose.  T.V. 

At  times  quite  plentiful  on 
the  Illinois  River. 

§Canada  Goose.  S.R.,  N. 

Rare.  Very  doubtful  as  a 
breeder  at  present  day. 
The  most  common  goose 
occurring  within  our  bor- 
ders during  migrations. 
Winters  occasionally  on 
Lake  Michigan,  and  other 
parts  of  state. 

Hutchins'  Goose.    T.  V. 

Far  less  plentiful  than  the 
preceding,  if  not  an  uncom- 
mon bird  within  our  limits. 

Cackling  Goose. 

Probably  accidental  visi- 
tant from  the  west.  At 
least  one  positive  record  for 
the  state,  viz: — Addison, 
DuPage  County  (Eifrig). 

Brant. 

Illinois  records  question- 
able; at  least  formerly.  An 
accidental  straggler  from 
the  Atlantic  coast. 
A  positive  record,  however, 
seems  to  have  been  made 
at  Lacon,  Marshall  Coun- 
ty, Nov.  9,  1921,  in  the 
capture  of  a  young  or  im- 
mature specimen,  which 
undoubtedly  may  be  re- 
ferred to  this  the  east- 
ern bird.  It  was  brought 
to  Chicago  on  the  above 
date,  by  H.  S.  Hanson  of 
that  city,  and  left  in  the 
care  of  Richard  A.  Turtle, 
taxidermist,  through  whose 
courtesy  a  later  inspection 
of  same  was  made  by  the 

39 


COMPREHENSIVE  LIST 

writer  and  several  others. 
The  puzzling  character  of 
this  bird's  plumage  created 
considerable  interest  among 
a  number  of  Chicago  orni- 
thologists. 

SWANS. 

Whistling  Swan.    T.V. 

Formerly  fairly  common. 
Now  an  uncommon  visitor 
within  our  limits. 

Trumpeter  Swan. 

No  recent  records.  Ex- 
tremely rare  and  possibly 
extinct  in  state. 

SPOONBILL  AND  IBISES. 
Glossy  Ibis. 

Probably  rare  straggler  to 
S.  111.  Good  records  for 
the  adjoining  states;  but 
those  for  Illinois  are  not 
altogether  satisfactory. 

Wood  Ibis.  S.V. 

Not  uncommon  late  sum- 
mer visitor  to  Southern  and 
Central  Illinois. 

Roseate  Spoonbill. 

No  recent  records.  Very 
likely  occurred  as  an  occa- 
sional visitant  from  the 
south  many  years  ago.  The 
only  positive  record  for 
Wisconsin  is  that  of  a  speci- 
men taken  near  Janesville, 
in  August,  1845.  Both  Nel- 
son and  Ridgway  list  it  for 
Illinois,  hut  on  rather  indefi- 
nite evid< 

White  Ibis. 

Rare  summer  visitant  to 
S.  111.  Ridgway  has  re- 
ported it  from  Mt.  Carmel, 
Wabash  County,  as  seen 
there  during  the  spring  of 
1878,  and  which  appears  to 
be  the  only  record  for  the 
state. 

40 


OF          ILLINOIS          BIRDS 

BITTERNS  AND  HERONS. 

§fBittern.   S.R.,  N.C. 

Common.  May  occur  as  a 
breeder  also  in  S.  Illinois. 

§*Least  Bittern.   S.R.,  X.C.S. 
Common. 

Cory's  Least  Bittern. 

A  peculiar  color-phase  of 
the  Least  Bittern — one  rec- 
ord, Lake  County  (Eifrig). 

§ti*Great  Blue  Heron.    S.R., 
N.C.S. 

Chiefly  T.  V.  and  not  un- 
common. 

*Ward's  Heron.  S.R.,  S. 
*Egret.   S.R.   S. 

Probably  not  nesting  now 
in  S.  111.  Formerly  com- 
mon S.  R.  and  a  visitant,  if 
not  breeder,  in  other  por- 
tions of  the  state. 

Snowy  Egret. 

Originally  not  uncommon 
late  summer  visitant  to  S. 
I11M  and  also,  not  abun- 
dantly, to  other  parts  of 
state.  Reported  by  Kenni- 
cptt  and  Nelson  as  occur- 
ring in  N.  E.  111. 

Reddish  Egret. 

Recorded  by  Nelson  as 
quite  common  late  summer 
visitant  to  extreme  S.  111. 
No  recent  records. 

Little  Blue  Heron.  S.R. 

Late  S.  R.  in  S.  111.  Not 
uncommon. 

— *Green  Heron.  S.R.,  X.C.S. 

Common. 

§f — *Black-crowned  Night  Her- 
on.  S.R.,  N.C.S. 

Locally  quite  common. 

*Yellow-crowned  Night 
Heron.  S.R.,  S. 

Rather  local  and  not  very 
common.  A  rare  straggler 
to  other  parts  of  state. 

41 


COMPREHENSIVE  LIST 

CRANES. 

Whooping  Crane. 

Very  rare,  and  possibly 
now  extinct  in  state.  No 
recent  records.  Nelson  re- 
ported it  nesting  sparingly 
in  the  central  part  of  state. 

fSandhill  Crane.  S.R.,  C. 

Nested  formerly,  but  doubt- 
less not  now.  Still  occurs 
as  a  T.  V.  Not  common. 
Hess  reports  the  last  nest- 
ing date  for  his  section  as 
1872,  on  the  authority  of  S. 
S.  Love.  The  eggs  were 
placed  under  a  domestic 
goose  for  incubation;  and 
one  of  the  Cranes  thus 
hatched  and  reared  by  Mr. 
Love,  is  still  there. 

COURLAN. 

Limpkin. 

A  semi-tropical  and  acci- 
dental straggler  to  the  state. 
One  reported  from  Cham- 
paign County  by  Hess. 

RAILS,     GALLINULES     AND 

COOT. 
-*King  RaiL  S.RM  N  .c  s. 

Common. 

§f  Virginia  Rail.  S.R.,  N.C.S. 
Common.    Replaced  by  the 
former  in  some  localities. 

§fSora.  S.R,  N.C.S. 

Common.  Probably  the 
most  numerous  of  the 
Rails;  at  least  formerly. 

*Yellow  Rail.  S.R.,  N.C.S. 

And  possibly  more  com- 
mon than  generally  sup- 
posed. According  to  Nel- 
son, quoting  Baird,  there  is 
a  nesting  record  for  N.  111. 

§tBlackRail.  S.R.,  N.C. 

And  possibly  in  S.  111. 
Same  remark,  as  in  the  case 
of  the  preceding,  may  ap- 
ply to  this  Rail  also. 

42 


O     F          ILLINOIS          BIRDS 

Purple  Gallinule. 

Rare  visitant  from  farther 
south.  Several  records  for 
this  and  adjoining  states. 

§t*Florida  Gallinule.   S.R.,  N. 
C.S. 

Common. 

§fCoot.  S.R.,  N.C.S. 

Common.  Very  common 
locally  during  fall  migra- 
tion. 

PHALAROPES. 

Red  Phalarope.   T.V.,  N. 

A  very  rare  migrant,  and 
given  on  the  authority  of 
Nelson.  There  are  several 
positive  records  for  Wis. 

Northern  Phalarope.  T.V. 

Not  common.  Positive  rec- 
ords for  the  Chicago  Area 
are  given  by  Woodruff. 

§Wilson's  Phalarope.   S.R., 

N. 
Fairly  common,  but  local. 

AVOCET  AND  STILT. 
Avocet.  T.V. 

Probably  a  rare  visitant  at 
the  present  day.  No  recent 
records  so  far  as  known. 
May  5,  1889  is  the  most  re- 
cent for  the  Chicago  Area, 
and  made  on  the  authority 
of  Brandler  by  Stoddard. 
("The  Auk,"  Jan.,  1921,  p. 
110). 

Black-necked  Stilt.  T.V. 

Equally  as  rare  as  the  pre- 
ceding at  the  present  time. 
Nelson  gives  it  as  "an  ex- 
ceedingly rare  visitant." 

SNIPE,  SANDPIPERS,  ETC. 
— *Woodcock.  S.R.,  N.C.S. 

Possibly  not  as  plentiful  as 
formerly,  although  locally 
quite  common. 

43 


COMPREHENSIVE  LIST 

§Wilson's  Snipe.  S.R.,  N. 

Abundant  T.  V. 
Dowitcher.   T.V. 

Probably  of  uncommon  oc- 
currence. 

Long-billed  Dowitcher.    T. 
V. 

Formerly  plentiful.  Now 
quite  rare. 

Stilt  Sandpiper.  T.V. 

Rare  spring,  but  not  un- 
common fall  migrant. 

Knot.  T.V. 

Occurs  sparingly  and  chief- 
ly along  the  shores  of  Lake 
Michigan. 

Purple  Sandpiper.  T.V. 

Of  very  rare  occurrence. 
Two  records  only  for  the 
Chicago  Area,  (Nelson), 
(Woodruff). 

Pectoral  Sandpiper.  T.V. 

A  few  S.  R.,  but  do  not 
nest.  Common  T.  V. 

White-rumped     Sandpiper. 
T.V. 

Very  rare.  Records  are  few. 
Woodruff  gives  positive 
records  for  Lake  and  Mor- 
gan counties,  and  the  writer 
also  has  taken  this  Sand- 
piper within  our  limits 
(Chicago,  Oct.  20,  1877). 
Recently,  Aug.  29,  1920,  a 
single  bird  was  seen  by  him 
and  studied  at  close  range, 
on  the  grass-field  at  the 
north  end  of  Lincoln  Park, 
Chicago. 

Baird's  Sandpiper.   T.V. 

Occurs  quite  regularly.  Not 
common,  though  possibly 
more  plentiful  than  gener- 
ally supposed. 

Least  Sandpiper.  T.V. 

May  have  nested  very  rare- 
ly in  former  years.  Com- 
mon T.  V. 

44 


OF          ILLINOIS          BIRDS 

Red-backed  Sandpiper.    T. 
V. 

Common,  but  possibly  less 
so  than  formerly. 

Semipalmated  Sandpiper. 
T.V. 

Occasional  S.  R.,  but  do 
not  nest.  T.  V.,  regular 
and  common. 

Western  Sandpiper.  T.V. 

Of  regular  occurrence  and 
classed  as  common,  but  ap- 
parently uncommon  at  the 
present  day. 

Sanderling.  T.V. 

Common  on  shores  of  Lake 
Michigan. 

Marbled  Godwit.  T.V. 

Rarely  met  with  at  present 
time.  The  latest  record  for 
the  Chicago  Area  is  May 
15,  1889  (Brandler)  and  re- 
cently ("The  Auk,"  Jan. 
1921,  p.,  110)  reported  by 
Stoddard. 

Hudsonian  Godwit.   T.V. 

Now  of  very  rare  occur- 
rence. 

So  far  as  known,  the  most 
recent  records  within  our 
limits  are  those  of  Brand- 
ler, fall  of  1889,  for  Cook 
County,  since  reported  by 
Stoddard  ("The  Auk,"  Jan., 
1921,  p.,  110),  and  later  the 
summer  records  of  Wood- 
ruff, June,  1892,  for  Lake 
County. 

Greater  Yellow-legs.  T.V. 

Occasional  S.  R.,  and  may 
breed  in  N.  111.  Fairly  com- 
mon T.  V. 

§Yellow-legs.  S.R.,  N. 

Very  rare  breeder,  a  T.  V., 
and  possibly  more  plentiful 
than  the  preceding. 

45 


COMPREHENSIVE  LIST 


Solitary  Sandpiper.  T.V. 

Casual  S.  R.  in  N.  111.,  but 
never  found  actually  breed- 
ing. Chiefly  T.  V.,  regular, 
and  quite  common. 

Willet. 

Not  common,  if  it  actually 
does  occur  within  our  lim- 
its. Possibly  confounded 
with  the  following.  Defi- 
nite information  is  lacking. 

Western  Willet.  S.R.,  N. 

Authority — W.  W.  Cooke. 
Not  common  even  as  a  T. 
V.  Nelson  also  lists  the 
Willet  as  a  rare  summer 
resident  in  N.  111. 

§t$*Bartramian  Sandpiper.     S. 
R.,  N.C.S. 

Formerly  common.  Num- 
bers now  greatly  reduced. 
Perhaps  absent  as  a  breed- 
er in  extreme  S.  111. 

Buff-breasted  Sandpiper. 
T.V. 

Of  extreme  rarity  at  the 
present  day.  The  few  rec- 
ords are  from  N.  E.  111.  Of 
equal  rarity  in  the  adjoin- 
ing states  of  Wis.  and  Ind. 
The  seasons  of  1921,  spring 
and  fall,  were  noteworthy, 
however,  in  contributing 
materially  to  pur  local  his- 
tory of  this  bird. 
Oct.  2  a  positive  record  was 
made  by  Sanborn  at  Beach, 
Lake  County.  Sight  rec- 
ords also  were  made  within 
the  Chicago  Area  as  fol- 
lows: Lewis,  April  7,  one  at 
Jackson  Park;  Aug.  23,  two 
in  Lincoln  Park,  and  ob- 
served frequently  after 
that,  or  up  to  Sept.  15, 
when  but  one  was  present 
and  last  seen. 
Sept.  9  the  writer  was  able 
to  study  one  carefully  at 
close  range  among  some 

46 


OF          ILLINOIS          BIRDS 

dump-piles  at  the  north 
end  of  Lincoln  Park,  or  in 
what  is  now  being  con- 
verted into  new-made  land. 
Aug.  28,  four  birds  seen 
among  a  flock  of  Pectorals, 
in  the  grass-field  adjoining, 
undoubtedly  were  of  this 
species,  although  listed  by 
the  writer  at  that  time,  as 
doubtful. 

§f— *Spotted  Sandpiper.   S.R., 
N.C.S. 
Common. 

§Long-billed  Curlew.   S.R., 

N. 

Authority  of  Nelson,  who 
once  found  it  nesting  in  N. 
E.  111.  No  recent  records 
of  its  occurrence  within  the 
state.  The  latest  for  the 
Chicago  Area  is  Sept.  22, 
1889,  and  made  on  the  au- 
thority of  Brandler  by 
Stoddard  ("The  Auk,"  Jan., 
1921,  p.,  110). 

Hudsonian  Curlew.  T.V. 

But  probably  of  very  rare 
occurrence. 

Recently,  however,  it  has 
appeared  within  the  Chi- 
cago Area  (Leopold  in 
"The  Auk,"  Jan.,  1921,  p., 
123),  a  specimen  being 
seen  Sept.  7,  1920,  on  the 
beach  at  Jackson  Park. 
Some  time  afterward  two 
birds,  answering  this  cur- 
lew's description,  were  re- 
ported to  the  writer  as  hav- 
ing been  seen  about  the 
same  time  on  the  grass- 
field  at  the  north  end  of 
Lincoln  Park.  The  gentle- 
man giving  the  information, 
a  sportsman  of  experience, 
claimed  to  be  familiar  with 
the  bird,  to  have  hunted  it 
years  ago  in  Texas;  and,  al- 
though he  had  lived  near 
the  park  for  twenty  years 
and  over,  frequently  visit- 

47 


COMPREHENSIVE  LIST 

ing  it,  these  were  the  first 
he  had  seen  outside  that 
state. 

Eskimo  Curlew. 

No  recent  records.  Pos- 
sibly extinct  in  state. 

PLOVERS. 

Black-bellied  Plover.  T.V. 

A  few  non-breeding  birds 
are  S.  R.  Fairly  common 
T.  V.  along  the  shores  of 
Lake  Michigan  and  also, 
sparingly,  inland. 

Golden  Plover.   T.V. 

Once  common;  now  scarce 
and  local. 

Small  flocks  and  individual 
birds  visited  the  Lake 
Michigan  shore-front  the 
past  season,  twenty  birds  at 
least,  in  two  small  flocks, 
being  seen  by  Hunt  and  the 
writer  on  the  Waveland 
Ave.  beach,  Lincoln  Park, 
Chicago,  the  morning  of 
Oct.  2,  1921. 

§tt— *Killdeer.    S.R.,  N.C.S. 

Common. 

Semipalmated  Plover.  T.V. 

A  few  remain  S.  R.,  and 
may  breed  in  N.  111.  Fairly 
common  T.  V. 

§Piping  Plover.    S.R.,  N. 

Breeds  locally.  Not  com- 
mon. 

TURNSTONE. 

Ruddy  Turnstone.   T.V. 

And  at  times  fairly  com- 
mon on  shores  of  Lake 
Michigan. 

BOB-WHITE,  GROUSE,  ETC. 
§t$— *Bob-white.  P.R.,  N.C.S. 

Classed  as  common  through- 
out this  state,  but  more 
common  south. 

48 


OF          ILLINOIS          BIRDS 

§J— *Ruffed  Grouse.  P.R.,  N.C.S. 

Now  rather  scarce  and  lo- 
cal. 

§f:j:— *Prairie  Chicken.  P.R.,  N.C. 
S. 

Still  quite  common  locally. 

Prairie  Sharp-tailed  Grouse. 

Supposed  to  have  nested 
formerly  in  N.  E.  111.  near 
Waukegan,  Lake  County. 
Reported  as  occurring 
within  recent  years  in  the 
dune  region  of  N.  W.  In- 
diana, near  Tremont  (See 
Brennan  in  "The  Auk"  for 
Jan.,  1918,  p.  75.),  where  it 
is  said  to  breed.  There  are 
no  recent  records  for  this 
state.  And  those  referred 
to  by  Nelson  in  1877  as 
being  found  in  the  vicinity 
of  Waukegan  during  the 
fall  season  of  1863,  or  1864, 
on  the  authority  of  T.  H. 
Douglas  of  that  place,  are 
the  latest,  so  far  as  known. 
For  that  reason  alone  the 
above  mentioned  citation 
from  a  neighboring  state 
might  readily  be  discred- 
ited, or  regarded  as  doubt- 
ful at  least,  were  it  not 
possible  to  account  for  the 
occurrence  on  the  theory 
of  introduced  birds,  or  de- 
scendants therefrom,  used 
originally  for  game-stock- 
ing purposes.  The  forego- 
ing is  the  first  and  only 
given  record  for  that  state; 
and  we  have  been  told  also 
that  specimens  of  this 
Grouse  were  "planted"  in 
parts  of  Indiana  for  the 
special  purpose  named. 

t*Wild  Turkey.  P.R.,  S. 

Scarce  and  local. 
§English  Pheasant.    P.R. 

An  introduced  game-bird 
which  seems  to  be  quite 
well  established  in  some 

49 


COMPREHENSIVE  LIST 


places  within  our  state,  lo- 
cal conditions  being  favor- 
able, and  where  some  added 
protection  has  been  given 
it.  In  most  cases,  however, 
the  experiment  has  proven 
a  venture  without  yielding 
the  best  results. 

PIGEON  AND  DOVE. 

Passenger  Pigeon. 

Supposed  to  have  once 
nested  sparingly  in  N.  E. 
111.  Now  extinct.  Former- 
ly occurred  abundantly  as 
a  T.  V.  throughout  the 
state. 

§t$— *Mourning  Dove.  S.R.,  N.C. 

S. 

Common,  though  numbers 
much  reduced  in  recent 
years.  Winters  occasion- 
ally in  N.  and  C.  111.  and  is 
present  all  winter  in  parts 
of  S.  111. 

VULTURES. 

ft— *Turkey  Vulture.  S.R.,  N.C. 

S. 

Chiefly  C.  and  S.  Rare  S. 
R.  in  N.  111.  P.  R.  in  S.  111. 

*Black  Vulture.   S.R.,  S. 

Not  uncommon  in  S.  111. 

HAWKS  AND  EAGLES. 

— *Swallow-tailed   Kite.    S.R., 

S. 

Now  rare.  Irregular  and 
uncommon  T.  V.  in  other 
parts  of  state. 

White-tailed  Kite. 

Recorded  as  a  S.  R.  in  S. 
111.  (Mt.  Carmel)  Authority 
— Ridgway. 

Mississippi  Kite.  S.V. 

A  summer  visitant  to  S.  111., 
probably  less  plentiful  than 
formerly. 

50 


OF          ILLINOIS          BIRDS 

§f— Marsh  Hawk.    S.R.,  N.C.S. 

A  rare  breeder  in  S.  111. 
Common  T.  V.  in  many 
parts  of  state,  and  winters 
more  or  less  plentifully 
over  the  entire  state. 

— *Sharp-shinned  Hawk.   S.R., 
N.C.S. 

Not  common.  Fairly  com- 
mon T.  V.,  and  wintering, 
as  in  the  case  of  the  pre- 
ceding, in  all  sections  of 
the  state. 

§fj— *Cooper's  Hawk.   S.R.,  N.C. 

o. 

Breeds  quite  commonly 
throughout  the  state,  and  is 
also  more  or  less  a  P.  R. 
This  and  the  foregoing  are 
reported  more  common  in 
winter  in  the  southern  third 
of  state. 

Goshawk.   W.V. 

Chiefly  N.  111.  Some  sea- 
sons quite  plentiful. 

Western  Goshawk. 

Accidental  visitant  from 
the  west.  Worthen  has 
taken  it  near  Warsaw. 

§t+— *Red-tailed  Hawk.    S.R.,  N. 

C. 

Apparently  decreasing  as  a 
breeder  in  this  state.  A 
permanent  resident  in  S. 
111.,  and  also  occurs  spar- 
ingly during  the  winter  in 
N.  and  C.  111. 

Krider's  Red-tailed  Hawk. 

Probably  accidental  in  111. 
A  visitant  from  farther 
west.  But  one  record  so 
far  as  known,  viz: — near 
Half  Day,  Lake  County 
(Coale). 

Western  Red-tailed  Hawk. 
An  occasional  straggler 
from  the  west.  Nelson 
gives  a  positive  record  near 

51 


COMPREHENSIVE  LIST 


Chicago,  and  Worthen 
states  it  has  been  taken 
near  Warsaw. 

Harlan's  Hawk. 

Accidental  no  doubt  in  111. 
A  visitor  from  the  south. 
Reported  by  Ridgway  and 
Worthen  from  near  War- 
saw, and  also  from  the  Chi- 
cago Area  by  Woodruff. 

— *Red-shouldered   Hawk.    S. 
R.,  N.C. 

The  common  hawk  in 
many  portions  of  the  state. 
P.  R.  in  S.  111.,  and  winter- 
ing to  some  extent  in  N. 
and  C.  111. 

•)•— Swainson's  Hawk.   S.R.,  C. 

S. 

And  possibly  N.  111.  A 
casual  breeder  in  the  state. 

§fBroad-winged  Hawk.   S.R., 
N.C.S. 

Fairly  common.  More  com- 
mon during  migrations. 

Mexican  Goshawk. 

Reported  by  Ridgway  from 
Richland  County.  An  ac- 
cidental summer  visitor 
from  the  tropics. 

Rough-legged  Hawk.   T.V. 

Late  fall,  winter  and  early 
spring  visitant  to  many 
parts  of  state,  but  occurring 
perhaps  most  abundantly  in 
the  open  country  of  Central 
111.  Also  a  winter  resident 
in  S.  111. 

Ferruginous  Rough-legged 
Hawk. 

Accidental  in  111.,  two  rec- 
ords only  so  far  as  known, 
viz: — near  the  Mississippi 
River  (Coues),  and  Paris, 
Edgar  County  (Cooke). 

52 


OF          ILLINOIS          BIRDS 

Golden  Eagle. 

Formerly  nested  in  differ- 
ent parts  of  state,  as  has 
been  stated.  Now  a  rare 
T.  V. 

*Bald  Eagle.  S.R.,  N.C.S. 

But  now  rare.  Of  regular, 
though  not  very  common, 
occurrence  during  migra- 
tions. 

Prairie  Falcon. 

Accidental  visitor  from  far- 
ther west.  But  few  records. 
Ridgway  gives  a  positive 
one  for  Rock  Island  Coun- 
ty, and  also  mentions  see- 
ing it  in  Lawrence  and 
Wabash  Counties. 

*Duck  Hawk.  S.R.,  S. 

Rare.  Not  common  as  a 
migrant  or  T.  V.  in  other 
parts  of  state. 

Pigeon  Hawk.  T.V. 

Rare  S.  R.  in  N.  111.  Breed- 
ing status  doubtful,  but 
probably  does  not  nest. 
Occurs  regularly  as  a  T.  V« 
but  cannot  be  classed  as 
common  anywhere  in  state. 

Richardson's  Pigeon  Hawk. 

Probably  very  unusual,  if 
not  of  accidental,  occur- 
rence in  state.  Met  with 
by  Worthen  at  Warsaw. 

§t:f— *Sparrow  Hawk.   S.R.,  N. 

Fairly  common.  Occasional 
W.  R.  in  N.  111.,  and  a  per- 
manent resident  in  C.  and 
S.  111.,  where  common. 

— *Osprey.  S.R.,  N.C.S. 

Not  common.  Chiefly  T. 
V.,  regular  in  parts  of 
state,  and  not  very  com- 
mon. 

53 


COMPREHENSIVE LIST 

OWLS. 

ft— *Barn  Owl.  P.R.,  C.S.A. 

And  nesting  more  or  less 
commonly.  Of  casual  oc- 
currence in  N.  111. 

:— *Long-eared   Qwl     pR}    N 

c.s. 

Not  uncommon  in  portions 
of  state,  and  migrating  to 
some  extent  locally. 

§t— • Short-eared  Owl.    S.R.,  N. 
C.S. 

Winters  more  or  less 
abundantly  in  C.  and  S.  111., 
and  to  a  lesser  extent  in  N. 
111.  Now  rare  as  a  breeder 
in  southern  portion  of  state. 
Common  during  migrations 
in  many  parts  of  state,  al- 
though might  be  classed  a 
permanent  resident  in  the 
northern  half  of  Illinois. 

*Barred  Owl.  P.R.,  N.C.S. 

A  permanent  resident  where 
found.  Common  in  many 
places. 

Great  Gray  Owl. 

Rare  and  unusual  winter 
visitant  from  the  far  north. 
No  recent  records.  Both 
Kennicott  and  Nelson  in- 
clude it  in  their  lists. 

Richardson's  Owl. 

Of  occasional,  though  rare, 
occurrence  in  state.  There 
are  several  positive  records 
from  the  Chicago  Area, 
and  at  least  two  from 
within  the  state. 

JSaw-whet  Owl.  S.R.,  S. 

One  breeding  record  for 
the  state,  so  far  as  known, 
viz: — Marion  County  (Van- 
dercook),  but  a  probable 
breeder  in  N.  C.  111.  Not 
uncommon  T.  V.,  and  oc- 
casional W.  R.  in  N.  111., 

54 


OF          ILLINOIS          BIRDS 


where  noted  in  summer  to 
some  extent.  The  Marion 
County  nesting  record  of 
this  bird,  March  18,  1890, 
probably  stands  unique  in 
several  respects,  and  worthy 
perhaps  of  special  mention 
in  this  connection.  The 
eggs  then  taken  are  now  a 
part  of  the  Vandercook 
collection,  the  sitting  female 
also  being  captured  at  the 
time.  Besides,  as  Mr.  Van- 
dercook reports,  and  so  far 
as  he  is  aware,  there  are  no 
further  evidences  of  this 
Owl  occurring  in  that  lo- 
cality either  before  or  since 
that  date. 

§ttScreech  Owl.  P.R.,  N.C. 

And  questionable  in  S.  111. 
Common  resident. 

— ^Southern  Screech  Owl.    P. 
R.,  S. 

§tt—*Great  Horned  Owl.  P.R., 
N.C.S. 

Common  resident  in  por- 
tions of  the  state. 

Arctic  Horned  Owl. 

Apparently  no  definite  rec- 
ord for  this  state.  Included 
by  Nelson  and  reported 
from  states  adjoining. 

Snowy  Owl.  T.V. 

Irregular  W.  V.  At  times 
quite  common,  at  least  for- 
merly, in  the  vicinity  of 
Lake  Michigan.  Hess  re- 
ports it  from  his  district, 
but  apparently  it  is  rare  in 
S.  111. 

Hawk  Owl. 

Probably  very  rare  visitor 
within  our  limits.  Reported 
by  Nelson  from  Kane 
County  (Velie)  Sept.  1, 
1869.  Also  reported  from 
Wisconsin. 

55 


COMPREHENSIVE LIST 

PAROQUET. 

Louisiana  (Carolina)  Paro- 
quet. 

Long  extinct.  Even  in 
Audubon's  day  was  fast 
disappearing,  though  still 
quite  common  in  this  state. 

CUCKOOS  and  KINGFISHER. 
— *Yellow-billed  Cuckoo.  S.R., 
N.C.S. 

Common  to  all  parts  of 
state. 

§— *Black-billed  Cuckoo.    S.R., 
N.C.S. 

Regarded  as  common,  but 
of  a  more  limited  distribu- 
tion apparently  than  the 
preceding. 

§f:|:_*Belted  Kingfisher.  S.R.,  N. 
C.S. 

Of  regular  distribution 
throughout  the  state  and 
remaining  at  times  all  win- 
ter, about  open  water,  even 
in  the  northern  part  of  state. 

WOODPECKERS. 

Ivory-billed  Woodpecker. 

Probably  extinct  in  Illinois. 
Audubon  seems  to  have 
met  with  it  within  our  lim- 
its. Ridgway  has  a  dis- 
tinct recollection  of  having 
seen  it  in  his  early  days, 
and  the  present  writer  feels 
quite  certain  of  hearing  its 
call  note  in  a  swamp  near 
Ullin,  Pulaski  County,  in 
the  fall  of  1900.  Widmann 
records  it  as  taken  near 
Morley,  Scott  County,  Mo., 
Nov.  8,  1895. 

§f$Hairy  Woodpecker.   P.R., 
N.C. 

And  questionable  in  S.  111. 
Common  where  found. 

56 


OF          ILLINOIS          BIRDS 

— *Southern  Hairy  Woodpeck- 
er. P.R.,  S. 

Common. 

— *Southern  Downy  Wood- 
pecker. P.R.,  S. 
Common. 

§f$Downy  Woodpecker.   P.R., 
N.C. 

And  questionable  in  S.  111. 
Common  where  found. 

Arctic    Three-toed    Wood- 
pecker. W.V. 

Irregular  fall  and  winter 
visitor  to  N.  111.  Several 
seen  within  the  Chicago 
Area  during  the  fall  of  1920. 

§Yellow-bellied   Sapsucker. 
S.R.,  N. 

Not  common.  Hess  writes 
of  photographing  full  grown 
young  in  Putnam  County, 
N.  111.,  June  1st.  Common 
migrant.  W.  R.  in  C.  and 
S.  111. 

$— *Pileated  Woodpecker.  P.R., 

S. 
Not  uncommon. 

Northern    Pileated    Wood- 
pecker. P.R.,  N.C. 

Rare  in  C.  and  N.  111.  Very 
doubtful  as  a  breeder  at 
present  time,  and  probably 
of  casual  occurrence  only 
as  a  T.  V.  According  to 
Nelson  and  Woodruff,  has 
occurred  as  a  straggler 
within  the  Chicago  Area, 
and  Kennicott  listed  it  as 
formerly  not  uncommon. 

§t$— *Red-headed  Woodpecker. 
S.R.,  N.C.S. 

Common.  A  few  winter  in 
N.  and  C.  111.  Common  W. 
R.  in  S.  111. 

57 


COMPREHENSIVE  LIST 

§f:j:— *Red-bellied  Woodpecker. 
S.R.,  N.C. 

But  rare  in  N.  111.  Com- 
mon in  southern  portion  of 
state  all  the  year  round, 
casually  occurring  in  win- 
ter in  C.  111. 

$— *Flicker.  P.R.,  S. 

Common  the  year  round. 

§tNorthern  Flicker.    S.R.,  N. 
C. 

Common.  Some  also  win- 
ter in  N.  and  C.  111. 

WHIP-POOR-WILLS,  NIGHT- 
HAWKS,  SWIFT  and  HUM- 
MINGBIRD. 
— *Chuck-wiirs-widow.    S.R., 

S. 
Not  uncommon. 

§^_  *  Whip-poor-will.   S.R.,  N.C. 

S. 

Common  in  many  places 
throughout  the  state.  Also 
reported  as  becoming 
scarce,  from  some  cause 
unknown,  in  places  where 
once  fairly  common. 

§t$*Nighthawk.    S.R.,  N.C.S. 

But  probably  replaced 
largely  in  N.  and  C.  111.  by 
Sennett's  Nighthawk,  and 
by  the  following  in  S.  111. 

— *Florida  Nighthawk.  S.R.,  S. 
Sennett's  Nighthawk.   S.R., 

N.C. 

§f:j:_*Chimney  Swift.    S.R.,  N.C. 
S, 

Common  throughout  the 
state. 

§f  J — *Ruby-throated  Humming- 
bird. S.R.,  N.C.S. 

Common  in  many  portions 
of  the  state. 

58 


OF          ILLINOIS          BIRDS 

FLYCATCHERS. 
§t:f— *Kingbird.  S.R.,  N.C.S. 
Common. 

Arkansas  Kingbird. 

Accidental  within  our  lim- 
its, a  straggler  from  the 
west,  and  listed  here  on  the 
authority  of  Edward  R. 
Ford,  who  reports  seeing 
one  at  Willow  Springs, 
Cook  County,  early  in  June 
of  1912,  or  1913,  the  exact 
date  of  occurrence  he  is 
unable  to  give.  Was  fight- 
ing with  a  common  King- 
bird at  the  time,  and  the 
latter  succeeded  in  driving 
it  from  the  field. 
Has  wandered  at  times  as 
far  east  as  the  Atlantic 
coast,  and  there  are  rec- 
ords for  Mo.,  Iowa  and 
Wis.,  but  this  seems  to  be 
its  first  appearance  in  Il- 
linois. 

§t±— *Crested   Flycatcher.     S.R., 
N.C.S. 

Fairly  common,  frequently 
occupying  bird  boxes  with- 
in the  settlements  on  pri- 
vate grounds. 

§f^_-*phoebe.   S.R.,  N.C.S. 

Quite  common  in  S.  111., 
but  seemingly  less  plentiful 
than  formerly  in  northern 
part  of  state. 

Say's  Phoebe. 

An  accidental  straggler 
from  the  west.  Recorded 
from  Cook  County  (Nel- 
son). 

Olive-sided  Flycatcher.    T. 
V. 

Regular,  but  not  very  com- 
mon. 

§t|_*Wood  Pevvee.    S.R.,  N.C.S. 
Common. 

59 


COMPREHENSIVE  LIST 

Yellow-bellied  Flycatcher. 
T.V. 

Regular  and  not  uncom- 
mon. 

§tt— *  Acadian  Flycatcher.   S.R., 
N.C.S. 

Fairly  common,  north; 
more  common  in  S.  111. 

§tt— *Traill's  Flycatcher.   S.R., 
N.C.S. 

Quite  common  in  favored 
localities. 

Alder  Flycatcher.   T.V. 

Spring  and  fall.  Not  un- 
common. 

§^Least  Flycatcher.    S.R.,  N. 
C.S. 

Possibly  absent  as  a  breed- 
er in  extreme  S.  111.  Com- 
mon where  found.  More 
common  during  migrations. 

LARKS. 

Horned  Lark.  T.V. 

Unusual,  if  not  rare,  late 
fall  and  winter  visitor  to 
N.  111.,  although  according 
to  Nelson,  formerly  com- 
mon. A  flock  of  about  two 
dozen  was  first  seen  by  the 
writer  Oct.  31,  and  later  in 
Nov.,  in  Grant  Park,  Chi- 
cago, during  the  fall  of 
1921. 

§f  $— *Prairie  Horned  Lark.  P.R., 
N.C.S. 

Found  commonly  through- 
out the  state. 

CROWS,  JAYS,  MAGPIES, 
ETC. 

Magpie. 

Kennicott  recorded  it  in 
1854  as  not  uncommon  in 
winter.  Its  occurrence 
here  at  this  day  must  be  re- 
garded as  accidental.  Has 

60 


OF          ILLINOIS          BIRDS 

been  reported  from  Cham- 
paign County  in  the  spring, 
—April  26,  1914  (Hess). 

§t*Blue  Jay.  P.R.,  N.C. 

And  questionable  as  a 
breeder  in  S.  111.  A  com- 
mon resident  where  found. 

— ^Florida  Blue  Jay.   P.R.,  S. 

Resident  in  S.  111. 
Raven. 

Formerly  resident,  but  now 
very  rare  if  not  absent  en- 
tirely. 

Northern  Raven.  T.V. 

Occurring  at  very  rare  in- 
tervals. Resident  in  N.  111. 
many  years  ago. 

§ttCrow.  P.R.,  N.C. 

And  questionable  as  a 
breeder  in  S.  111.  Common. 

— ^Southern  Crow.   P.R.,  S. 

Resident  in  S.  111. 
Clarke's  Nutcracker. 

Accidental  straggler  from 
the  west.  Coale  records  it 
from  Cook  County. 

BLACKBIRDS,  ORIOLES, 
ETC. 

§tBobolink.   S.R.,  N.C. 

Common,  and  a  common 
migrant  throughout  the 
state. 

§tt— *Cowbird.  S.R.,  N.C.S. 

Common. 

§Yellow-headed  Blackbird. 
S.R.,  N. 
But  very  locally  distributed. 

§t$— *Red-winged  Blackbird.    S. 
R.,  N.  C. 

Abundant  migrant  and 
common  breeder  in  state. 
During  mild  seasons  a  few 
winter  in  suitable  places 
throughout  the  state. 

61 


COMPREHENSIVE LIST 

*Florida  Red-winged  Black- 
bird.   S.  R.,  S. 

§tMeadowlark.  S.R.,  N.C.S. 
Questionable  in  S.  111. 
Casual  W.  R.  in  N.  and  C. 
111. 

:£ — *Southern  Meadowlark.   S. 
R.,  S. 

Breeding  status  not  fully 
determined.  Probably  resi- 
dent in  S.  111.,  and  common 
there  throughout  the  year. 

§Western  Meadowlark.  N. 
Same  comment  as  above. 
Reported  as  nesting  in  N. 
W.  111.,  at  least,  in  the  vi- 
cinity of  Rockford,  Winne- 
bago  County,  where  Stpd- 
dard  regards  it  a  fairly 
common  summer  resident. 

§f|__*Orchard  Oriole.   S.R.,  N.C. 
S. 

More  common  in  S.  111. 
§^_*Baltimore  Oriole.    S.R.,  N. 
C.S. 
Common  in  many  places. 

Rusty  Blackbird.  T.V. 

Common.  Reported  as  win- 
tering rarely  in  N.  111.  Not 
common  W.  R.  in  S.  111. 

Brewer's  Blackbird. 

Accidental  straggler  from 
the  west.  Apparently  but 
one  positive  record  for  the 
state — Mt.  Carmel  (Ridg- 
way). 

§-j--j.__*Bronzed  Grackle.    S.R.,  N. 
C.S. 

Common.  Nests  commonly 
in  the  Chicago  parks.  Dur- 
ing mild  seasons  a  few  win- 
ter in  suitable  places  in  all 
parts  of  state. 

FINCHES,  SPARROWS,  ETC. 
Evening  Grosbeak.  T.V. 

Irregular  W.  V.  to  N.  Ill, 
and  found  chiefly  near  Lake 
Michigan. 

62 


OF          ILLINOIS          BIRDS 


Pine  Grosbeak.  T.V. 

Very  irregular  late  fall  and 
winter  visitor  to  N.  111.,  and 
found  in  same  places  as 
the  preceding. 

Purple  Finch.  S.R.,  N. 

Common  T.  V. 

A  few  winter  in  parts  of  the 

state,  and  casually  in  N.  111. 

*House  Sparrow.  P.R.,  N.C. 

S. 

Abundant,  particularly  in 
and  about  the  larger  cities 
and  towns. 

European  Tree  Sparrow.  P. 
R.,S. 

Like  the  preceding  an  in- 
troduced species,  though,  in 
this  instance,  but  locally  es- 
tablished, or  naturalized,  in 
the  vicinity  of  St.  Louis. 
Otto  Widmann  writes  under 
date  of  Nov.  19,  1921,  of 
finding  it  as  far  back  as 
twenty-five  years  ago  in  at 
least  four  of  the  Illinois 
counties,  and  the  probabili- 
ties are  its  range  has  been 
extended  somewhat  since 
then. 

The  counties  named,  and 
places  mentioned  where 
found,  are  as  follows,  viz:  — 
Jersey  (Grafton);  Madison 
(Alton  and  Godfrey);  St. 
Clair  (Belleville,  etc.),  and 
Monroe  (Columbia). 
Local  observers  in  this 
state  apparently  have  over- 
looked this  interesting  bird, 
owing  perhaps  to  its  mod- 
est and  retiring  habits,  or 
confused  it,  possibly,  in 
some  way  with  its  more 
boisterous  and  aggressive 
cousin  the  House  Sparrow. 

Crossbill.   T.V. 

Irregular  and  erratic  in  its 
movements,  and  confined 

63 


COMPREHENSIVE  LIST 

for  the  most  part  to  the 
region  about  Lake  Michi- 
gan. 

Newfoundland  Crossbill. 
T.V. 

Has  occurred  with  the  pre- 
ceding in  Lake  County, 
where  Coale,  Sanborn,  and 
Stoddard  found  it  in  large 
flocks,  almost  to  the  exclu- 
sion of  the  former,  during 
the  late  fall  and  early  win- 
ter of  1916-17.  The  last 
was  seen  on  Jan.  11,  by 
Thomas  H.  Douglas  of 
Waukegan. 

These  occurrences  have 
been  verified  from  speci- 
mens taken  at  the  time,  by 
such  good  authorities  as 
Oberholser,  Bent  and 
Bangs,  and  also  by  other 
equally  well-known  orni- 
thologists. 

White-winged  Crossbill. 
T.V. 

Very  irregular  late  fall  and 
winter  visitor  to  N.  111., 
and  chiefly  in  the  vicinity 
of  Lake  Michigan. 

Hoary  Redpoll. 

Rare  winter  visitant.  Re- 
ported from  both  N.  and  S. 
111.  by  Ridgway. 

Redpoll.    W.V. 

At  least  to  northern  part 
of  state,  and  some  seasons 
quite  common. 

Holboeirs  Redpoll.   (?) 

May  occur  very  rarely  as  a 
T.  V.,  but  the  records  are 
much  confused. 

Greater  Redpoll. 

Very  rare  fall  and  prob- 
ably W.  V.  Records  from 
the  Chicago  Area  by  Cooke 
and  Woodruff. 

64 


OF          ILLINOIS          BIRDS 


—  *Goldfinch.  S.R.,  N., 

And  wintering  quite  com- 
monly at  times.  P.  R.  in 
C.  and  S.  111.,  where  com- 
mon. 

Pine  Siskin.  T.V. 

Irregular  and  erratic.  Some 
seasons  abundant.  An  oc- 
casional W.  R.  in  S.  111. 

Snow  Bunting.  T.V. 

Late  fall  and  winter  visi- 
tant to  N.  111.  Quite  com- 
mon at  times  along  the 
shore  of  Lake  Michigan. 

Lapland  Longspun  T.V. 

Abundant  fall,  winter  and 
spring  visitant,  to  N.  and 
C.  111.,  remaining  quite  late 
in  spring,  some  years  well 
into  May,  in  N.  111. 

Smith's  Longspur.   T.V. 

Not  infrequent  and  prob- 
ably more  common  than 
generally  supposed,  both 
spring  and  fall,  in  N.  111. 

Chestnut-collared  Long- 
spur. 

Accidental  straggler  from 
the  western  plains.  Record- 
ed from  near  Orland,  Cook 
County  (Coale). 

McCown's  Longspur. 

Accidental  visitant  from 
the  west.  Coale  reports 
three  from  Champaign 
County. 

—  -*Vesper  Sparrow.  S.R.,  N.C. 

S. 

Common  in  N.  and  C.  111., 
but  uncommon  to  very  rare 
summer  resident  in  S.  111. 

§*  Savannah  Sparrow.   S.R., 
N.S. 

Common  T.  V.,  and  fairly 
common  breeder  in  N.  111., 
but  very  rare  in  S.  111. 
Probably  winters  to  some 
extent  in  S.  111.,  and  may, 
very  rarely,  in  C.  111. 

65 


COMPREHENSIVE  LIST 


—  *Grasshopper  Sparrow.  S.R., 
N.CS. 

Common.  Possibly  less  so 
in  the  Chicago  Area  than 
formerly. 

§—  *Henslow's  Sparrow.   S.R., 
N.CS. 

Common  in  some  locali- 
ties, but  rather  locally  dis- 
tributed. 

§Leconte's  Sparrow. 

Recorded  by  Abbott  as 
breeding  in  N.  E.  111.,  but 
record  questioned.  How- 
ever, egg  specimens,  repre- 
senting the  foregoing,  and 
reported  from  this  state, 
were  pronounced  by  the 
Smithsonian  authorities  as 
belonging  to  this  bird 
(Ford). 

§Nelson's  Sparrow.   S.R.,  N. 

Not  common.  Chiefly  T. 
V.  Reported  by  Woodruff 
as  a  breeder  in  N.  E.  111., 
and  nesting  within  the  Chi- 
cago Area. 

§f:j:—  *Lark  Sparrow.  S.R.,  N.C.S. 

Of  local  distribution  and 
apparently  not  as  common 
as  formerly;  at  least  in  N. 
111. 

Harris's  Sparrow.  T.V. 

Irregular  visitor  from  far- 
ther west.  Records  fairly 
numerous,  and  more  regu- 
lar in  recent  years. 

White-crowned  Sparrow. 
T.V. 

Possibly  a  rare  breeder  in 
extreme  Northern  Illinois, 
as  it  is  known  to  be  a  cas- 
ual S.  R.  in  Southern  Wis- 
consin, and  according  to 
Kumlein  and  Hollister,  has 
nested  near  Madison.  Dr. 
Hoy  also  reports  a  few 
nesting  near  Racine. 

60 


OF          ILLINOIS          BIRDS 


Regular  T.  V.  Cannot  be 
classed  as  extremely  com- 
mon, though  some  seasons 
fairly  numerous.  Ridgway 
gives  it  as  a  W.  R.,  some- 
times in  large  numbers,  in 
Southern  Illinois. 

White-throated  Sparrow. 
T.V. 

Probably  nests  sparingly 
in  the  northern  counties  ot 
the  state.  Abundant  T.  V., 
spring  and  fall,  and  com- 
mon to  abundant  winter 
resident  in  C.  and  S.  111. 

Tree  Sparrow.  W.V. 

Common  winter  visitant  to 
all  sections  of  state. 

§t$— *Chipping  Sparrow.  S.R.,  N. 
C.S. 

Quite  common,  but  far  less 
plentiful  than  formerly  in 
N.  E.  111. 

Clay-colored     Sparrow.  S. 
R.,  N. 

Classified  as  S.  R.  in  N.  111. 
Possibly  more  plentiful  as 
a  migrant  than  generally 
supposed. 

— *  Field  Sparrow.  S.R.,  N.C.S. 

Common  in  all  parts  of 
state.  Common  W.  R.  in 
S.  111. 

Slate-colored  Junco.  T.V. 

Abundant  fall,  winter  and 
spring  in  all  portions  of  the 
state.  Numbers  less  in 
winter  in  N.  111. 

Shufeldt's  Junco. 

Accidental  straggler  from 
the  west.  Met  with  by 
Coale  and  Praeger  in  Lake 
and  Hancock  Counties  re- 
spectively. Sanborn  re- 
ports the  capture  of  a  third 
specimen,  the  latter  being 
taken  by  himself,  at  Beach 
Lake  Co.,  March  19,  1916. 

67 


COMPREHENSIVE  LIST 


Montana  Junco.  T.V. 

Has  been  regarded  as  acci- 
dental, but  probably  more 
numerous  than  the  records 
indicate.  Rare,  or  absent, 
and  again  sometimes  com- 
mon, as  a  winter  resident  in 
Southern  Illinois,  Ridgway 
writes. 

There  are  positive  records 
for  the  Chicago  Area,  by 
Ridgway  and  Woodruff, 
and  a  number  of  unques- 
tionably good  sight  records 
made  within  the  same  dis- 
trict. 

^ — *Bachman's  Sparrow.  S.  R., 
N.C.S. 

But  chiefly  S.  111.  Rare  in 
N.  111. 

§t$*Song  Sparrow.  S.R.,  N.C.S. 

Rather  rare  S.  R.  in  S.  111. 
Common  to  abundant  in 
most  parts  of  state.  Oc- 
casional W.  R.  in  N.  and 
C.  111.,  and  common  in  win- 
ter in  S.  111. 

§Lincoln's  Sparrow.  S.R.,  N. 
Not  common.  Fairly  com- 
mon migrant.  Winters  in 
S.  111.,  and  rarely  in  the 
northern  part  of  state. 

StSwamp  Sparrow.    S.R.,  N. 
C.S. 

But  questionable  in  ex- 
treme S.  111.  Fairly  com- 
mon. More  plentiful  dur- 
ing migrations.  Winters 
in  S.  111.  Hess  regards  it 
a  rare  breeder  in  his  sec- 
tion. 

Fox  Sparrow.  T.V. 

Common.  Winters  casual- 
ly in  N.  111.,  but  common 
during  the  same  period  in 
C.  and  S.  111. 

§^__*Xowhee.  S.R.,  N.C.S. 

Common.  Rather  common 
W.  R.  in  S.  111.,  and  of  cas- 

68 


OF          ILLINOIS          BIRDS 


ual,  or  rare,  occurrence  in 
the  more  northern  parts  of 
state. 

Arctic  Towhee. 

Accidental.  One  record  for 
N.  E.  111.  (Woodruff),  and 
reported  from  S.  Wis. 

§^_*Cardinal.  P.R.,  N.C.S. 

Common  in  lower  half  of 
state. 

§ftRose-breasted  Grosbeak.  S. 
R.,  N.C.S. 

But  rare  or  wanting,  as  a 
breeder,  in  extreme  S.  111. 
Fairly  common  in  many 
places.  Also  a  migrant,  or 
T.  V.,  throughout  the  state. 

—Blue  Grosbeak.   S.R.,  S. 

Reported  by  Ridgway  and 
Nelson  as  rare  in  S.  111. 

§tt— *Indigo  Bunting.  S.R.,  N.C. 

S. 

Common  to  all  parts  of 
state. 

Painted  Bunting. 

Rare  summer  visitor  to  S. 
111.  Ridgway  reports  it 
from  Wabash  County. 

§t:f.— *Dickcissel.   s  R ^  N  c  s 

Common  generally,  though 
erratic  at  times  and  change- 
able in  abundance. 

TANAGERS. 

§f:j:— *Scarlet  Tanager.  S.R.,  N.C. 

S. 

Locally  common  and  of 
general  distribution  through- 
out the  state. 

ft— *Summer  Tanager.   S.R.,  N. 
C.S. 

Rare  S.  R.  in  N.  111.  Com- 
mon in  southern  portion  of 
state. 

69 


COMPREHENSIVE  LIST 

SWALLOWS. 

§^_*purple  Martin.  S.R.,  N.C.S. 

But    numbers    reduced,    or 

wanting     now,     in     many 

places. 

§f— *Cliff  Swallow.  S.R.,  N.C.S. 

Formerly  common,  but 
scarce  now,  or  wanting,  in 
many  parts  of  state.  More 
common  T.  V. 

§f  :f_-.*Barn  Swallow.  S.R.,  N.C.S. 
Quite  common.  Less  plen- 
tiful than  formerly,  though 
apparently  increasing. 

§t*Tree  Swallow.  S.R.,  N.C.S. 
Common  locally.  More 
abundant  during  migra- 
tions. 

Northern  Violet-green 
Swallow. 

Accidental  visitor  from  the 
west.  Reported  from  Chi- 
cago by  Woodruff. 

§t£-*Bank  Swallow.  S.R.,  N.C.S. 
Of  marked  sociability,  nest- 
ing together  in  good  sized 
colonies  and  distributed 
well  throughout  the  state. 

§f — *Rough-winged  Swallow.  S. 
R.,  N.C.S. 

Far  less  sociable,  often 
nesting  in  isolated  pairs. 

WAXWINGS. 

*Bohemian  Waxwing.  T.V. 

Irregular  and  rare  W.  V., 
chiefly  to  N.  111.  A  heavy 
flight  occurred  in  the  re- 
gion about  Lake  Michigan 
during  the  winter  of  1919- 
20.  Also  recorded  from 
Pulaski  County,  S.  111. 
(Forbes). 

§f-_*Cedar  Waxwing.  S.R.,  N.C. 

S. 

Sometimes  W.  R.,  but 
rather  erratic  in  move- 
ments. 

70 


OF          ILLINOIS          BIRDS 

SHRIKES. 

Northern  Shrike.  W.V. 

Formerly  common  in  N. 
111.  Now  less  plentiful. 
Casual  in  C.  111.,  but  rare 
or  wanting  in  S.  111. 

Loggerhead  Shrike.  S.R.,  S. 

Regarded  by  Cory  as  a 
summer  resident  in  S.  111. 
Evidently  rare.  His  con- 
clusions are  based  on  three 
specimens  from  that  sec- 
tion. The  majority,  he 
thinks,  are  intermediate  be- 
tween this  and  the  follow- 
ing. 

§f:j:_-*Migrant  Shrike.    S.R.,  N.C. 

P.  R.  in  S.  111.,  but  not 
abundant.  The  common 
Shrike  of  the  state. 

VIREOS. 

§f:j:—*Red-eyed  vireo.  S.R.,  N.C. 

S. 
Common. 

Philadelphia  Vireo.  T.V. 

Possibly  nests  in  N.  Ill, 
and  very  rarely  in  north- 
central  part  of  state.  Not 
very  common  T.  V.  Nelson, 
however,  regarded  it  a 
common  migrant. 

§f:j:— *Warbling  Vireo.  S.R.,  N.C. 
o. 

Fairly  common  in  some  lo- 
calities. 

§_*Yellow-throated  Vireo.    S. 
R.,  N.C.S. 

More  common  in  southern 
portion  of  state. 

Blue-headed  Vireo.  T.V. 

Regular  migrant,  though 
not  extremely  common. 

•ft— *White-eyed  vireo.  S.R.,  N. 
C.S. 

Not  common  S.  R.  in  N.  111. 
Common  in  the  more 
southern  portions  of  state. 

71 


COMPREHENSIVE  LIST 

§f— *Bell's  Vireo.  S.R.,  N.C.S. 

Not  common  S.  R.  in  N.  111. 
More  or  less  of  local  dis- 
tribution and  quite  com- 
mon in  parts  of  the  state, 
chiefly  south. 

WARBLERS. 

§— *Black  and  White  Warbler. 
S.R.,  N.S. 

And  possibly  nesting  in  C. 
111.  Common  T.  V. 

§t*Prothonotary  Warbler.   S. 
R.,  N.C.S. 

Locally  abundant.  Not 
common  in  N.  111. 

Swainson's  Warbler.    S.R., 

S. 

Rare  and  somewhat   local. 

tfWorm-eating  Warbler.   S. 
R.,  N.C.S. 

Rare  S.  R.  in  N.  111.  Com- 
mon in  S.  111. 

Bachman's  Warbler.  S.R., 

S. 

Listed  here  as  new  to  Il- 
linois on  the  authority  of 
Robert  Ridgway,  who 
states  positively  of  having 
found  it  in  the  vicinity  of 
Mt.  Carmel,  Wabash  Coun- 
ty, during  the  spring,  or 
breeding  season,  of  1878, 
while  investigating  the 
bird-life  of  that  locality  in 
company  with  William 
Brewster. 

Considering  the  supposed 
extreme  rarity  of  this  War- 
bler, and  the  fact  that  no 
specimen  was  taken,  it  was 
not  thought  advisable  at 
that  time  to  publish  the 
record,  fearing  it  might 
be  seriously  questioned; 
and  the  above  statement 
until  now  never  has  ap-  • 
peared  in  print.  Future  in- 

72 


OF          ILLINOIS          BIRDS 

vestigations  doubtless  will 
clearly  establish  the  fact  of 
its  being  a  regular  summer 
resident  within  our  bor- 
ders, though  perhaps  lim- 
ited as  to  numbers,  and  of 
very  local  distribution,  in 
the  extreme  southern  por- 
tions of  state. 

§$— *Blue-winged  Warbler.  S. 
R.,  N.C.S. 

Rather  rare  and  local  in  N. 
111. 

jGolden-winged  Warbler.  S. 
R.,  N.C.S. 

But  chiefly  N.  111.  Of 
local  distribution  as  a  S.  R. 
More  common  during  mi- 
grations. 

Nashville  Warbler.  S.R.,  N. 
Authority  of  Ridgway. 
Common  T.  V. 

Orange-crowned  Warbler. 
T.V. 

Apparently  not  common, 
though  easily  overlooked. 

Tennessee  Warbler.  T.V. 

Common  both  spring  and 
fall. 

^Northern  Parula  Warbler. 
S.R.,  N.C.S. 
Rather  local  as  a  breeder, 
but  not  uncommon  T.  V. 

Cape  May  Warbler.   T.V. 

Regular,  and  some  seasons 
quite  numerous. 

§tt— *Yellow  Warbler.  S.R.,  N.C. 
S. 
Common. 

Black-throated  Blue  War- 
bler. T.V. 
Common. 
Myrtle  Warbler.  T.V. 

Abundant.  Casual  W.  R. 
in  S.  111. 

73 


COMPREHENSIVE  LIST 

Magnolia  Warbler.  T.V. 

Very  nearly  as  plentiful  as 
the  preceding. 

§__*Cerulean  Warbler.  S.R.,  N. 

C.S. 

Breeds  locally  in  N.  111. 
Common  in  S.  111. 

Chestnut-sided  Warbler.  S. 
R.,  N. 

May  nest  in  S.  111.,  as  there 
is  a  breeding  record  for  S. 
E.  Missouri  (Gault).  Com- 
mon migrant  spring  and 
fall. 

Bay-breasted  Warbler.   T. 
V. 

Common. 
Black-poll  Warbler.    T.V. 

Common. 

Blackburnian  Warbler.    T. 
V. 
Common. 

*Sycamore  Warbler.  S.R. 

Apparently  confined  as  S. 
R.  to  S.  111.,  where  com- 
mon. Rare  in  N.  111. 

Black-throated  Green  War- 
bler. S.R.,  N. 

Authority  of  Nelson.  Com- 
mon T.  V. 

Kirtland's  Warbler.  T.V. 

The  rarest  of  pur  warblers. 
Definite  spring  records 
from  Glen  Ellyn,  DuPage 
County  (Gault);  Winne- 
bago  County  (Dickinson), 
and  Morgan  Park,  Chicago 
(Blackwelder);  made  in 
the  order  named.  The 
Southward  flight  to  its 
winter  home  in  the  Baha- 
mas is  east  of  Illinois. 

*Pine  Warbler.   S.R.,  N.C.S. 

A  local  breeder  and  not 
very  common  migrant  at 
the  present  day. 

74 


OF          ILLINOIS          BIRDS 

Palm  Warbler.   T.V. 
Abundant. 

§*Prairie  Warbler.  S.R.,  N.C. 

S. 

But  uncommon  in  N.  111. 
Scattered  records  for  this 
state.  Apparently  not  very 
common. 

§•(•_ *Oven-bird.  S.R.,  N.C.S. 

Common. 

Water-thrush.    T.V. 
Fairly  common. 

Grinnell's  Water-thrush. 
T.V. 

Quite  likely  a  S.  R.  in  N. 
111.  Apparently  outnumber- 
ing the  preceding;  at  least 
in  N.  E.  111. 

§tt — ^Louisiana  Water-thrush. 
S.R.,  N.C.S. 

But  chiefly  C.  and  S.  Com- 
mon south.  Found  nesting 
in  Lake  County,  N.  E.  111. 
(Gault). 

§t$— *Kentucky  Warbler.   S.R., 
N.C.S. 

But  rare  in  N.  111.  Common 
in  S.  111.  Hess  reports  find- 
ing its  nest  in  Putnam 
County,  N.  111. 

Connecticut  Warbler.   T.V. 

Tolerably  common  in 
spring,  late  summer  and 
fall. 

Mourning  Warbler.  T.V. 

Fairly  common,  some  sea- 
sons quite  common. 

§tt— ^Maryland  Yellow-throat.  S. 
R.,  N.C.S. 

Probably  the  most  abun- 
dant of  our  S.  R.  Warblers. 

§f $— .*Yellow-breasted  Chat.  S.R., 
N.C.S. 

A  rather  local  breeder  in 
N.  111.  Common  in  southern 
portions  of  state.  But  ex- 

75 


COMPREHENSIVE  LIST 

ceedingly  rare  now,  in 
places,  according  to  Ridg- 
way's  observations. 

t*Hooded  Warbler.  S.R.,  N. 

C.S. 

Rare  S.  R.  in  N.  111.  Nests 
abundantly  in  S.  111. — local- 
ly at  least. 

Wilson's  Warbler.   T.V. 

Common. 

Canadian  Warbler.  T.V. 

Common. 
§t— *Redstart  S.R.,  N.C.S. 

Common  in  many  portions 
of  the  state.  Less  numer- 
ous in  N.  111.  than  formerly. 

PIPIT. 

Pipit.   T.V. 

Common  in  many  parts  of 
the  open  country.  Sparing- 
ly W.  R.  in  S.  111. 

MOCKINGBIRDS,  WRENS, 
ETC. 

^-^Mockingbird.   S.R.,  N.C. 

P.  R.  in  S.  111.,  though  rare 
now,  in  places,  as  Ridgway 
informs  us.  Rare  S.  R.  in 
N.  111.,  and  there  are  in- 
stances known  of  its  hav- 
ing wintered  in  that  sec- 
tion of  the  state. 

§tt—*Catbird.  S.R.,  N.C.S. 

Breeds  abundantly  through- 
out the  state. 

§f:j:— *Brown  Thrasher.    S.R.,  N. 
C.S. 

Nests  commonly  in  all 
parts  of  the  state. 

§f±_*Carolina  Wren.    S.R.,  N.C. 

O  • 

Not  common  S.  R.  in  N. 
111.  Common  in  southern 
half  of  state,  although  prac- 
tically extirpated  in  places, 
according  to  Ridgway. 
Winters  casually  in  N.  111. 

76 


OF          ILLINOIS          BIRDS 

§f:j:_-*Bewick's  Wren.   S.R.,  N.C. 

S. 

Rare  S.  R.  in  N.  111.  Com- 
mon in  S.  111.,  to  some 
extent  being  replaced  there 
by  the  following. 

§t**House  Wren.  S.R.,  N.C.S. 
Common.     Increasing,  ap- 
parently in  N.  111.  as  well 
as  in  the  southern  parts  of 
state. 
— *Western  House  Wren. 

Apparently  more  common 
than  the  preceding,  but 
breeding  status  not  fully 
determined. 

Winter  Wren.   T.V. 

Fairly  common  spring  and 
fall  in  N.  111.  Hess  also 
reports  it  common  in  win- 
ter in  his  section,  while 
Ridgway  regards  it  rare 
in  his  locality,  and  found 
in  winter  only.  Evidently 
of  more  or  less  local  and 
unequal  distribution,  while 
within  our  limits,  taking 
state  as  a  whole. 

§Short-billed  Marsh  Wren. 
S.R.,  N.C.S. 
Common  locally. 

§t— "Long-billed  Marsh  Wren. 
S.R.,  N.C.S. 

Common  in  suitable  locali- 
ties. 

Prairie  Marsh  Wren.    S.R., 

N. 

But  breeding  status  not 
fully  determined. 

CREEPERS. 

Brown  Creeper,  T.V. 

Chiefly,  and  a  possible 
breeder  N.  C.  S.  Common 
during  migrations.  W.  R. 
in  S.  111.,  and  winters 
casually  in  N.  111. 

77 


COMPREHENSIVE  LIST 

NUTHATCHES  AND  TIT- 
MICE. 

§fWhite-breasted  Nuthatch. 
P.R.,  N.C 

And  questionable,  as  a 
breeder  (resident  form),  in 
S.  111. 

— *Florida  White-breasted 
Nuthatch.  P.R.,  S. 

§Red-breasted  Nuthatch.    S. 
R.,  N. 

Rare.  Tolerably  common 
migrant,  occasionally  win- 
tering, a  few  at  least,  in  C. 
and  S.  111.  Also  rare  W.  R. 
in  N.  111. 

§f:j:— *Tufted  Titmouse.   P.R.,  N. 
C.S. 

Uncommon  S.  R.  in  N.  111., 
although  wintering  there 
to  some  extent.  Common 
in  southern  portions  of 
state. 

§tChickadee.   P.R.,  N.C. 

Common. 
£__ *Carolina  Chickadee.   P.R., 

S. 

Apparently  confined  to  S. 
111.,  as  a  resident  bird. 

Hudsonian  Chickadee. 

Very  irregular  and  rare 
winter  visitor  to  N.  111. 

KINGLETS  AND  GNAT- 
CATCHERS. 

Golden-crowned  Kinglet. 
T.V. 

Common,  a  few  wintering 
in  all  parts  of  state. 

Ruby-crowned  Kinglet.    T. 
V. 

Perhaps  more  numerous 
than  the  preceding.  Casual 
W.  R.  in  N.  111. 

78 


OF          ILLINOIS          BIRDS 

§1$— *Blue-gray  Gnatcatcher.  S. 
R.,  N.C.S. 

Commoner  in  the  southern 
portions  of  the  state.  Now 
rare  in  some  places,  where 
formerly  it  nested  regular- 
ly, in  northern  part  of  state. 

Townsend's  Solitaire. 

Accidental  visitor  from  the 
west.  One  record — Wau- 
kegan,  Lake  County,  (Nel- 
son). 

THRUSHES,  BLUEBIRDS, 
ETC. 

§f:j:--*Wood  Thrush.  S.R.,  N.C.S. 

Common  in  places,  though 
exceedingly  rare  now  in 
Richland  County.  So  Ridg- 
way  informs  us. 

§fVeery.   S.R.,  N.C. 
Chiefly  T.  V. 

Willow  Thrush.  S.R. 

The  common  form  in 
Northeastern  Illinois.  Very 
likely  nests  within  our 
limits. 

Gray-cheeked  Thrush.  T.V. 
Very  common. 

Bicknell's  Thrush.   T.V. 

Possibly  a  straggler  within 
our  limits.  Records  from 
Hancock  County  (Ridg- 
way),  and  Lake  County 
(Coale),  the  latter  having 
met  with  it  twice,  the  last 
a  crippled  specimen  found 
Sept.  22,  1921  in  his  yard 
at  Highland  Park,  Lake 
County. 

Olive-backed  Thrush.  T.V. 

Probably  the  most  numer- 
ous of  our  Thrushes. 

79 


COMPREHENSIVE  LIST 


Alaska  Hermit  Thrush. 

Accidental  visitor  from  the 
west.  One  record  from  N. 
E.  111.,  Lake  County, 
(Coale). 

Hermit  Thrush.  T.V. 

Common.  Sometimes  found 
all  winter  in  S.  III. 

§tRobin.  S.R.,  N.C. 

Abundant.     Casual  W.   R. 

in  all  sections  of  the  state 
— individuals  N.  and  C, 
and  remaining  in  small 
numbers  in  S.  111. 

$— ^Southern  Robin.   S.R.,  S. 

§f$--*Bluebird.  S.R.,  N.C. 

Not  as  plentiful  in  parts  of 
states  as  formerly,  especial- 
ly N.  E.  111.  P.  R.  in  S.  111. 


80 


